Soviet Medical Encyclopedia

Vitriols

Chemistry & Physics, Pharmacology, Toxicology

Also known as: Copperas

Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.

Summary

This 1930s encyclopedia article defines vitriols as sulfate salts of certain divalent metals that form isomorphous series, such as copper, iron, manganese, and magnesium vitriols. It explains the historical origin of the name and notes that all vitriols are soluble in water and have a caustic action.

Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)

VITRIOLS, sulfate salts of certain divalent metals that form isomorphous series, for example, crystallizing in the triclinic system as pentahydrates: copper vitriol CuSO4 · 5H2O, iron — FeSO4 · 5H2O, manganese — MnSO4 · 5H2O, magnesium — MgSO4 · 5H2O; isomorphous series are also observed for hexa- and heptahydrates. The name vitriol comes from the corrupted «Kupferwasser», because formerly sulfuric acid was obtained by the distillation of vitriol (in particular, copper vitriol) at high temperatures. All vitriols are soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol and oils; their action is caustic.

Cite this page

“Vitriols.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/vitriols/