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 2 months ago

I thought quicksilver was mercury.

[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Quicksilver is mercury, but anyway thank you!

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 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 2 months ago

And the stuff that can dissolve gold: aquaregia

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

Where are you seeing aquafortis

[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago

Bonus panel

[–] mmddmm@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago

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