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| Alabastron |
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A small, elongated bottle or flask for
holding ointments, perfume or oil.. |
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| Alcaline |
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Containing alkali. Body showing the properties
or some of the particular properties of alkali, mainly
its faculty of becoming neutralized with acids.
Applicable to five metals that form a family and which
are, in order of increasing atomic number: lithium, soda,
potassium, rubidium and caesium. |
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| Alchemy |
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In Julius Firmico’s astrological treaty
dating back to the IV century, the word alchemy was used
for the first time in reference to the metallurgic techniques
of the Egyptians and Sumerians who, since 4000 BC, were
able to obtain copper from malaquite.
One of the first known alchemy works is the treatise of
Physica et Mystica, attributed to the Egyptian Bolos de
Mende who lived on the Delta-Nile around 200 years BC.
The treatise is part of a compilation carried out in the
VIII century which includes Zozimo’s works, who lived
at the beginning of the Christian era.
After the conquest of Alexandria in the year 642, the
knowledge of Greek and Egyptians alchemists was added
to that of the Arabs.
In the XII century developed in Europe great interest
for alchemy and as a result of the translations of the
works of Arab alchemists, Europeans became familiar with
the new knowledge which would be the bases for what is
today known as chemistry. |
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| Alkali |
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(Soda) Alkalis are chemical compounds widely
distributed in the vegetal kingdom which outstand for
the intense effects produced in the organism.
There are about 1,000 known alkalis, most are produced
by plants. Even though found throughout the plant, its
concentration is specially high in seeds, leaves, skin
and roots.
Chem. – name given to metal oxides highly soluble
in water that may act as strong bases.
Alkalis, bases or hydroxides have the fundamental quality
of releasing hydroxyl anions (or hydroxyl) HO and of combining
with acids producing salts vs. Base.
In glassmaking it is a soluble salt which main components
are potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. Essential
ingredient for glassmaking, usually 15% – 20% is
needed in the batch.
Fixed alkalis such as soda and caustic potash stand out
from volatile alkalis, such as ammonia.
Salty base, similar to alkali and artificially obtained
from combinations of organic origin. Its industrial applications
are many. In large, most alkalis are found as organic
acids salts or, even more rarely, in mineral acids from
the vegetal kingdom, particularly in fruits and flowers. |
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| Alkali weed |
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Plant growing in Egypt and Malta along
the Mediterranean shores. The ashes obtained by leaching
are know as la rochelle. |
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| Alkalimeter |
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Instrument of measure used to find the
amount of alkali in soda and potash carbonates. |
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| Amalgam |
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An alloy of mercury with another metal;
gold for gilding glass; tin as mirrors backing. It was
used in the XIX century as glass for mirrors and for Christmas
ornaments. |
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| Annealing |
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The process of subjecting glass to gradual
and uniform cooling in an anneling kiln.
After being formed, glass objects are annealed to relieve
stresses built up within the glass as it cools (see Annealing).
In an oven called a lehr, the glass is reheated to a temperature
high enough to relieve internal stresses and then slowly
cooled to avoid introducing new stresses. |
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| Aventurine |
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Translucent glass with sparkling inclusions
of gold, copper, or chromic oxide, first made in Venice
in the XVII century and specially in the XVIII and XIX
centuries. |
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