Chemistry:Chalcanthum
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In alchemy, chalcanthum, also called chalcanth or calcanthum, was a term used for the compound blue vitriol (CuSO4), and the ink made from it.[1] The term was also applied to green vitriol (ferrous sulfate).[2]
Some maintained calcanthum to be the same thing as colcothar, while others believed it was simply vitriol (sulfuric acid).[3]
The term "vitriol rubified" (Latin: reddened vitriol) refers to the reddish iron oxide residue (colcothar) left after heating green vitriol, and should not be confused with "red vitriol," a distinct mineral (native cobalt sulfate). [3]
References
- ↑ van Helmont, Jean Baptiste (1664). "The Author offers a dainty Dish to young Beginners". Van Helmont's Works. London: Lodowick Lloyd. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A43285.0001.001/1:138.8?rgn=div2;view=fulltext. Retrieved 2025-12-11. "nature hath produced a certain acide or tart Mineral salt, which the Greeks do name Calcanthum; and the Latines (by an unfit name) Atramentum Sutorium, or shooemakers ink. But the Chymists call it Vitriol"
- ↑ "Copperas". Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. 1913. "Green vitriol, or sulphate of iron; a green crystalline substance, of an astringent taste".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chambers, Ephraim (1728). "Chalcanthum". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. 1. London. p. n360. https://archive.org/details/Cyclopediachambers-Volume1/page/n360. "Chalcanthum, Χαλκανθες, the same with vitriol. See Vitriol. Some have also used Chalcanthum corruptly for colcothar, or vitriol rubified.".
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