Essais chimiques d’eckartshausen

Solving Phosphorus to Phosphoric Acid in Vitriol Oil

Phosphorus resolves to phosphoric acid in vitriol oil.

We know that 60 grains of sulfur burnt in clean air gives 87 grains of vitriolic acid (Vitriolsäure). Vitriolic acid is therefore sulfuric acid (Schwefelsäure) transformed by oxygen.

As we know the main ingredient: oil of vitriol, so we can explain the cause of the dissolution of phosphorus in it.

The oxygen contained in the oil of vitriol has more affinity for the phosphorus dilated by heat; hence it unites at its base to form phosphoric acid with it.

We can count on each grain of phosphorus two grains of acid, in multiplication of weight, so that a grain of phosphorus gives two grains of acid.





^{19 But unsuitable for operations on metals because it specifies another kingdom, which seems to ignore those who believed that the Agent of the philosophers of fire was animal magnetism.}

20. 
    In metallic alchemy, this "charcoal" is a scorer residue, resulting from certain manipulations and whose usefulness is demonstrated rather in the dry voice when the wet way.