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Why was sulphuric acid originally called oil of vitriol?

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Why was sulphuric acid originally called oil of vitriol?

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Later, in 18th century Europe, there were two processes in use by which sulfuric acid was made. One was by distilling green vitriol (ferrous sulfate) and collecting the acid vapors evolved, a method which gave the acid its early name ‘oil of vitriol.’ Highly concentrated sulfuric acid has an oily appearance, hence the oil reference. Alchemical Compounds: Vitriol The most important compound, the one in which all other reactions took place, was Vitriol. It was distilled from an oily, green substance that formed naturally from the weathering of sulfur-bearing gravel. After this Green Vitriol was collected, it was heated and broken down into iron compounds and sulfuric acid. The acid was separated out by distillation. The first distillation produced a brown liquid that stunk like rotten eggs, but further distillation yielded a nearly odorless, yellow oil called simply Vitriol. The acid readily dissolves human tissue and is severely corrosive to most metals, although it has no effect on gol

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