ALKACHEST, or Alcahest, in Chemistry, a universal Menstruum or Dissolvent, wherewith some Chemists have pretended to resolve all Bodies into their first Matter. See MENSTRUUM, DISSOLVENT, MATTER, &c. Those two eminent Adepts, Paracelsus and Helmont, expressly declare, that there is a certain Fluid in Nature, capable of reducing all sublunary Bodies, as well homogeneous as mixed, into their Ens principii, or Original Matter whereof they are composed; or into an uniform equable and potable Liquor, that will unite with Water and the Juices of our Bodies, yet retain its seminal Virtues; and if mixed with itself again, thereby be converted into pure elementary Water.—Whence they also imagined, it would at length reduce all Things into Water. See WATER. This Declaration, seconded by the Affirmation of Helmont, who religiously swears himself possessed of the Secret, has excited the succeeding Chemists and Alchemists to the Pursuit of so noble a Menstruum. Mr. Boyle was so fond of it, that he frankly acknowledges he had rather have been Master thereof than of the Philosopher’s Stone. See ALCHEMY.
ALKALY, Alkali, or Alkathy, in Chemistry, a Name originally given, by the Arabians, to a Salt extracted from the Ashes of a Plant called Kali; and by us Glass-wort because used in the making of Glass. See KALI, and GRASS.
Afterwards, the Term Alkaly became a common Name for the lixivious Salts of all Plants; that is, for such Salts as are drawn by Lotion from their Ashes. See LIXIVIOUS and ASHES. And hence, again, in regard the original Alkaly was found to ferment with Acids; the Name has since become common to all volatile Salts, and all terrestrial Substances which have that Effect. See ACID.
Afterwards, the Term Alkaly became a common Name for the lixivious Salts of all Plants; that is, for such Salts as are drawn by Lotion from their Ashes. See LIXIVIOUS and ASHES. And hence, again, in regard the original Alkaly was found to ferment with Acids; the Name has since become common to all volatile Salts, and all terrestrial Substances which have that Effect. See ACID.
ALCOHOL, or rather Alkool, in Chemistry, an Arabic Term, chiefly understood of the purest Spirit of Wine, raised or rectified by repeated Distillations to its utmost Subtility, and Perfection; so that if Fire be set thereto, it burns wholly away, without leaving the least Phlegm or Feces behind. See SPIRIT, DISTILLATION, RECTIFICATION, &c.
ALGAROT, or Algaroth, in the Arabian Chemistry, a Powder prepared of Butter of Antimony; being in reality no more than the Regulus of that Mineral, dissolved in Acids, and separated again by means of several Lotions with lukewarm Water, which imbibes those Acids. See REGULUS.This is also called Mercurius Vitae, or simply Emetic Powder.—It purges violently both upwards and downwards. See ANTIMONY.