Mineral acids and aqua regia
Ácidos minerales (sulfúrico, nítrico) y aqua regia
- Date
- c. 1300 · confidence low
- Place
- Italy (Pseudo-Geber, De inventione veritatis and Summa perfectionis)
- Credited to
- Pseudo-Geber (Paulus de Tarento, attributed)
- People
- 👤 seudo-Geber1300–
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What was discovered
The preparation of nitric acid by distilling vitriol with saltpetre, of sulphuric acid by distilling vitriols, and of aqua regia (nitric acid plus sal ammoniac), capable of dissolving gold, are all described. Strong acids multiply the reactions available.
Arab alchemists knew of corrosive mixtures, but clear recipes appear in Latin texts from around 1300. Merged with 'Mineral acids (nitric, sulphuric, aqua regia)' (duplicate, 23-09-2026).
What it led to
- Assaying and refining of precious metals
- Chemical acid industry
- Chemistry of salts and nitrates
- Assaying and separation of gold and silver (parting) in mints and mines
- Chemical metallurgy and etching
- Modern chemistry of acids and salts
Built on
- Alembic stillc. 800
- distillation
- Arab vitriols
- vitriol and saltpetre
Made possible
- Etchingc. 1515
- Hydrochloric acid1625
- gold refining with acids
- refined gunpowder
- metal assaying