. How to Produce Philosopher's Mercury from Source Water

[Andro]

1. I can't comment on Ether & Spiritus/Him, because I never did such thing and I also personally find employing any store-bought (or even home-made) chemicals quite unnecessary. I'm not saying "it" can't be harvested with chemicals, but ultimately, Ignis & Azoth tibi sufficiunt.

2. I doubt Cyliani used Di-Ethyl Ether to get the famous three layers of Salt (IMO). He used "Astral Spirit" to dissolve the 7-9 times sublimed mercurial matter and allow it to dry in a cool place, resulting in the 3 salt layers. No mention of pre-heating the Spirit/Solvent.

3. I've re-read the Air Trap page(s). I can't find any direct reference for "dissolving gold" with a "vivified ether". It appears Ether was used to extract/separate the grease that was previously obtained via the air trap, some of the grease floating to the top (and pipetted off) and the rest remaining at the bottom after evaporation. The Ether is afterwards discarded in this experiment. That's how I'm reading this, anyway.

4. If anyone has a strong inclination for using chemicals, I would suggest something with a distinctly different boiling point than what we are attempting to collect. This way, the sought-after substance can be easily separated from the chemical solvent by simple gentle distillation. I would also suggest a decent amount of cooling for the receiver, so we don't lose any of the "Precious"... IMO. Unless the Solvent is designated as the new & more subtle "Carrier" for our "Hidden Passenger".

 

[Lakshmana]

I tried collecting dew with "ormus trap" principles, north side repelling magnets on the exit and cooling to get a water condensation, the water that formed after only a day or so of letting it run formed some white fluffy salts very quickly (incubating).
I think ether is not necessary at all but it might be a decent substance to hold it with for a short while and then quickly transfer the "grease" that they keep talking about to a more suitable envelope.
And the "grease" seems to evaporate and not stay put for very long at all probably even if stored in a sealed glass vessel unless you shield it from emf.
I would either mix the ether with "gold" and evaporate it down slowly or try to emf distill the grease into a mu-metal container where the other salt is ready to mingle.
But if its true that sm and ether react in a way that ruins the sm which I'm not so sure of, a different approach employing less or no chemicals might yield better results.

You'll get ultimate bragging rights after you've distilled it for high strength and purity.

I made it with nitric acid as the oxidizer and Potassium metabisulfite + hcl creating a steady stream of sulfur dioxide bubbling into the nitric, then heated the nitric + sulfuric acid solution to 250-300c to get over 95% purity.
The fumes are terrible and I don't want to do it again without some kind of ghetto fume hood even outside I basically had to run away.
Now to make ether I think I just have to mix the high purity sulfuric acid with pure ethanol and heat to 140 c and hold it there with a fractioning column until it distills, then distil it again at a lower temperature.

I do not recommend anyone does any of this without a fume hood full protective equipment preferably a gas mask its just not even worth it.

 

[ghetto alchemist]

Andro:
I've re-read the Air Trap page(s). I can't find any direct reference for "dissolving gold" with a "vivified ether".

Air Trap Page:
Aqua regia is not the only way to dissolve gold. ….. A sublimate from this union acquires a new property in that it can now dissolve gold--no HCl/HNO3. Not a fantasy. Our group has done it

What more do you need?
A signed statuatory declaration from Kevin?

Andro:
I doubt Cyliani used Di-Ethyl Ether to get the famous three layers of Salt (IMO).

Hermetic Recreations: (See THIS POST)
When the Mercury is dissolved into the astral spirit, and when we have separated the earth by decantation and lotion, in order to lose nothing, the solution is exposed into a clod place, and there is a desposit of three salts, to know ; a cotton one, which swim on the surface and which is the mercury, the second one, which has the form of needled, is of the Niter's nature, and between two waters, is the third, which is a fix mineral salt, on the bottom.

Note the description of one of the salts appearing “between two waters”.
IMO that's referring to the boundary layer between 2 immiscible solvents.
And since ether was used by other early alchemists such as Geber, Paracelsus, Artephius and Lullius, which other immiscible solvent would you imagine Cyliani might have used instead of ether?

Lakshmana:
I think ether is not necessary at all but it might be a decent substance to hold it with for a short while and then quickly transfer the "grease" that they keep talking about to a more suitable envelope.

Yeah, I used to think there are multiple solvents which can be used to hold and manipulate HIM, but now I think that ether is probably the only truly suitable one.
IMO that's the reason why all the early alchemists used to talk about it all the time.

Lakshmana:
But if its true that sm and ether react in a way that ruins the sm

IMO Black wasnt saying that ether ruins the SM, but rather that mixing the 2 together increases the liklihood of an ether explosion.

Also WRT making your sulfuric acid....yeah sulfur dioxide is a pretty nasty gas to be producing in your lab.
You definitely don't want to be doing that without proper fume removal.
But....kudos to you for successfully doing it AND for distilling the sulfuric acid out after you were done.
Won't be many people on this forum who can say they've ever done that.
As for your next step in making ether, yes you're correct, except you don't need a fractionating column.

 

[ghetto alchemist]

Lakshmana:
I would either mix the ether with "gold" and evaporate it down slowly or try to emf distill the grease into a mu-metal container where the other salt is ready to mingle.

IMO the first thing you said is the way to augment a gold oxide/hydroxide powder into a transmutation stone.
I think that you only need to keep it just below body temperature and pull a slight vacuum to distill off the ether.
And if you live in a high altitude area, then might not even need the vacuum.

The second thing you suggested would probably work too.
I love it how you have such a solid understanding on this while still so young.

Lakshmana:
I tried collecting dew with "ormus trap" principles, north side repelling magnets on the exit and cooling to get a water condensation, the water that formed after only a day or so of letting it run formed some white fluffy salts very quickly (incubating).

That sounds pretty interesting.
Can you tell us more about it.
How about those fluffy salts...got any pics?
What exactly do you think they were?

 

[Lakshmana]

IMO the first thing you said is the way to augment a gold oxide/hydroxide powder into a transmutation stone.

I think the ether grease is a too volatile and unfixed form of sm to work as you would hope, it might need a third thing that is not white powder metals to fix it down to earth enough, what could hold on to it hydrogen? nitrogen?
Maybe the strange salts you can get from rainwater/dew can be doped with the grease to make a more powerful dew concoction.
Maybe even regular purified sea salt could be worked with the grease to create a sort of menstruum since sodium seems to hold on to it very strongly.

How about those fluffy salts...got any pics?

No pics but it looked like pretty oily clear water and there where small blobs of white stringy salt forming like a ball of yarn made of salt. (it was tiny though only a test run so it never went anywhere)
It was also collected in a location up in the mountains where there where extremely favorable conditions for this kind of work.

 

[ghetto alchemist]

I think the ether grease is a too volatile and unfixed form of sm to work as you would hope, it might need a third thing that is not white powder metals to fix it down to earth enough, what could hold on to it hydrogen? nitrogen?
Maybe the strange salts you can get from rainwater/dew can be doped with the grease to make a more powerful dew concoction.
Maybe even regular purified sea salt could be worked with the grease to create a sort of menstruum since sodium seems to hold on to it very strongly.

Well, as you’d remember, I ended up settling on ether after discovering that ethanol holds the HIM portion too strongly, evaporating away taking HIM with it.
I checked the scientific literature and found that ether is technically considered a polar solvent, but only very weakly so.
Then I had that final “duh” when I remembered that the old timers would always describe ether in their texts.
IMO the substances which hold on to HIM are polar solvents, positively charged ions (including salts) and Hydrogen.
IMO the goal of the alchemist is too load up HIM into a carrier substance which doesn’t hold on too strongly and can be made to release again fairly easily.
I think ether is the substance which fits the bill the best.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t try other things though, if you’re asking my advice then obviously IMO hydrogen would be a better bet than nitrogen.

As for using sea salt, you obviously know that the sodium ion reduces the magnetic susceptibility of HIM, but also know that the sodium ion also totally stops HIM from doing any magic in this world.
The cold fusion scientists and water-fuel guys both discovered that sodium hydroxide prevents success.

One more thing which might help you in your endeavours....
I recently came to the understanding that fluoride gas/ions probably causes the HIM component to leave water and vapour off into the surrounding air.
So you could add fluoridated water as a deliberate way to forceable eject HIM if you want it removed for some reason.

Lastly thanks for sharing your experience with the fluffy salt....sounds intriguing.

 

[elixirmixer]

Ghetto, you are reminding me dangerously of myself some years back.

Not only did I not find any success, but I also had an ether explosion that could have very easily ended my life. Thankfully the explosion was pressure only and did not ignite. Had it ignited, I wouldn't have a face anymore. How it didn't ignite still seems to be rather miraculous to me since it was an exothermic acid reaction that caused the pressure buildup and HCL and ether went everywhere, right in my face.

Also, Andro is often very generous when he seemingly accepts that some would seek and find solace in a chemical victory.

But the truth of the matter is that this path is far from what any true philosopher ever had intended for their disciples.

I know it is disheartening to hear that. Truly, I've been there many times.

Please remember that what you are looking for, while being readily found in the mineral kingdom is Undefined. At least commonly. And those who have defined it have had no idea what they where looking at and most likely treated it as refuse.

Also bear in mind that playing with acids and ether is by no stretch of the imagination a woman's work or child's play. (Speaking of course in the context of the early modern period when most of these text where written)

If you are willing to spend money and take risks for the sake of learning, by all means continue. But the chances of finding genuine success here, while theoretically possible, are exceeding slim.

With love and respect, as always friend.

 

[Andro]

Also, Andro is often very generous when he seemingly accepts that some would seek and find solace in a chemical victory.

Not "seemingly". Certain chemical "solvents", even store-bought ones, can be used to carry over Spiritus. It's just not how I roll, that's all.

 

[microwatt]

Not "seemingly". Certain chemical "solvents", even store-bought ones, can be used to carry over Spiritus. It's just not how I roll, that's all.

there is a high proof alcohol called spiritus.

 

[ghetto alchemist]

Thanks for your words of warning Mixer, I really do appreciate your heart felt intent to prevent tragedy.
Would you mind sharing more of your experience with your ether explosion?
That might be very useful both for myself and the other fools like me in the world.

What exactly were you doing when the explosion happened?
What do you think caused it?
Are there any external factors which made it more likely to occur (eg hot summers day)?
What about the ether itself.....how did you come across it?
How long was it stored for?
Did you add anything to it to prevent or absorb peroxide’s?
Is there any other advice you can tell about how to prevent an explosion like yours from happening?

ElixirMixerlease remember that what you are looking for, while being readily found in the mineral kingdom is Undefined......playing with acids and ether is by no stretch of the imagination a woman's work or child's
......If you are willing to spend money and take risks for the sake of learning, by all means continue.

Learning and further understanding is exactly my purpose.
As for women’s work, I already outlined the easy way in my post on the dry path.
And as for what I’m looking for being undefined...
dude I already defined this stuff AND made it my bitch (white powder silver).

 

[elixirmixer]

I was cooking DMT. Using ether as a replacement for Naptha. It was possibly a hot day. Its never been completely clear to me as to why, but something about the addition of ether caused an exothermic reaction. The ether started to boil basically instantly. I went into panic, that i was going to lose my expensive ether before i could make the extraction, and thats when i made my near fatal mistake. I closed the container. And if that wasnt dumb enough, i then made an even more idiotic mistake that could have cost me my life. In an attempt to speed up the extraction so that i could get everything finished before the ether was gone, I........... shook the bottle.

BOOM.

Ether and HCL went fucking everywhere, drenched me. I was somehow completely uninjured. This was not at all a small pop either. this was a mushroom cloud at least 2 metres tall. it was a significant pressure release. I bought the ether from the chemical supply and never have taken efforts to care for my ether except for looking at the bottle occasionally wondering wherther or not it was going to spontenously explode. Fear. Pure Fear has been my only precautionary method. I did try to keep it out of the sun. peroxides would form. But i never had any flammable accidents thank Baby Jesus.

I do think there is something to be said about the oxides thing. I feel like copper oxide could be a powerful magnet, but my only basis for this is an intuative one, because i have had a number of very vivid and beautiful dreams about the oxidation of copper. I have no other reason to believe it has any significance and I have other salts that are the subject of my experimentation next time i get in the lab.

If i could give any advice about the ether thing it would be to either buy, or store, in small amounts.

There is something about having a 2ltr bottle of ether on the shelf that can prevent restful sleep

 

[Lakshmana]

As for using sea salt, you obviously know that the sodium ion reduces the magnetic susceptibility of HIM, but also know that the sodium ion also totally stops HIM from doing any magic in this world.

Somewhat, I distilled sea salt like 25 times until I started getting needle like crystals I still have that experiment but kind of abandoned it lol
Sodium does not delete the Him portion but just locks it quite strongly like in the Pulsed electromagnetic field post on subtleenergies they could boil Him out of salty water with emf I read something about salt water paths where it could dissolve metals when its saturated enough with spiritus which might be worth exploring but I'm doubtful about its potency.

So you could add fluoridated water as a deliberate way to forceable eject HIM if you want it removed for some reason.

This is pretty interesting hmm wonder why they put it in city water, surely to protect our teeth.
I could try it with Fluorite crystals they dissolve in water. I wonder if its strong enough to overcome sodium holding on to it making it possible to distill, But since Flouride is a halogen it might distill with it and ruin everything I have not researched Flouride chemistry. And its toxic.

I would never even store ether inside on some shelf at room temp and certainly not without following some basic rules:

1.
Store ether properly: Diethyl ether should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. It should be kept away from heat sources, direct sunlight, and sparks. It is recommended to store ether in amber glass bottles that have been washed with a reducing agent such as sodium bisulfite.

2.
Check for peroxides: Diethyl ether should be checked for peroxides before use. This can be done using a peroxide test strip or by titration with a solution of potassium iodide in acetic acid. If the test indicates the presence of peroxides, the ether should be discarded.

3.
Use freshly distilled ether: The longer ether is stored, the greater the chance of peroxide formation. Therefore, it is best to use freshly distilled ether for experiments. Additionally, it is recommended to distill the ether in the presence of a reducing agent such as sodium hydroxide.

4.
Avoid exposure to air: Diethyl ether should be kept in a closed container when not in use to prevent exposure to air. Air contains oxygen, which can react with the ether and form peroxides.

5.
Use inhibitors: Certain chemicals such as hydroquinone and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) can be added to ether as inhibitors to prevent peroxide formation. The inhibitors should be added in small amounts and should be removed before using the ether in experiments.

I don't think ether is useless for alchemy but I also don't think it will yield anything exceedingly potent.

I........... shook the bottle.

Glad you didn't seriously injure yourself everybody should learn from this and proceed with caution.
Enough alchemists have killed themselves in stupid ways we have the information available so use it.

 

[elixirmixer]

I appreciate the work you guys are doing here. It's very interesting.

 

[Andro]

According to Black:

Ether and Him / SM (Spiritus Mundi) must NEVER be worked together.

THEY ARE BOTH HIGHLY VOLATILE AND WILL REACT "AGAINST" EACH OTHER CREATING A VIOLENT UNCONTROLLABLE REACTION.

But earlier, Black posted:

So here are a few observations from experience of the Concentrated "HIM".

This spirit looks crystal clear as water.

It will distill over very easily at the same temp. as water will.

I have also managed to distill it over at the same temp. as ethanol.

Now I'm a bit confused regarding those statements...

Which is it? Super highly volatile like Ether, which can literally boil in the palm of our hand?

Or similarly "volatile" to Water or Ethanol, which distill around 100°C and 78°C, respectively?

Just curious to iron out any potential misunderstandings or inconsistencies.

UNLESS, by "volatile" is meant "explosive". In which case the above question is retracted.

Note: This is not about whether to work with Di-Ethyl Ether or not. This is about comparing boiling points, volatility and approximate sublimation temperatures.

 

[nav2010]

My word, you're going to seriously injure yourselves with this solvent business. Take it easy folks.

 

[elixirmixer]

So THIS is the video that explains the earth's magnetic field relative to a magnet, correctly: