Anyway, looks like "green vitriol" = iron sulfate (so it's enriched with iron), "spirit of hartshorn" = amonia (spoiled beans certainly release lots of this), "brimstone" = sulfur, "quicksilver" = mercury, and "aquafortis" = nitrates (on this context, but also nitric acid - afaik, our bodies can't use nitrates for anything).

(EDIT: yes, quicksilver is mercury, not lead.)

[–] Bhaelfur@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

I thought quicksilver was mercury.

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Aquafortis is specifically nitric acid. It's called that because it can dissolve "any" metal except for gold. Where "any" is "anything they knew about in the middle ages".

also, green vitriol is actually green. And blue vitriol, copper sulfate, is (surprise) blue. Copper sulfate is also what they put in antifreeze as a vomiting agent. I once had a single drop as a mistake, and it works REALLY well.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 3 points 11 months ago

And the stuff that can dissolve gold: aquaregia

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Quicksilver is mercury, but anyway thank you!

[–] Scubus@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Where are you seeing aquafortis

[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 9 points 11 months ago

Bonus panel

[–] mmddmm@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago

All from the first result in Duckduckgo. Mostly wikipedia, but I got "aqua fortis" on some dictionary.