Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[bi3mw]

Vitriol is the popular (wrong) interpretation after Basile Valentin, fake 15th century alchemist (actually 17th century).

Vitriols, known today as sulfates of divalent metals, played an important role in the development of modern chemical and metallurgical practice, and engaged the speculation of alchemists and mineralogists. The natural occurrence of vitriols and its earliest recognition as a distinct group of related minerals is discussed. The unique position of vitriols was codified in al-Rází's (854-925/935 AD) classification of mineral substances.

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Abū Bakr al-Rāzī (full name: أبو بکر محمد بن زکریاء الرازي, Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakariyyāʾ al-Rāzī),[a] c. 864 or 865–925 or 935 CE, often known as (al-)Razi or by his Latin name Rhazes, also rendered Rhasis, was a Persian physician, philosopher and alchemist who lived during the Islamic Golden Age.

Well, the characteristics attributed to vitriol (dissolving) don't necessarily have to correspond to the facts AFAIK green vitriol actually dissolved almost all substances except gold.