• mmddmm@lemm.ee
    121·
    1 day ago

    That one needs an explain-smbc…

    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.)

    • Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
      5·
      1 day ago

      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.