18th century chemical terms

Sedative Spar Calcium borate (CaB4 O7 ).

Sedlitz Salt (Epsom Salt) Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4 ).

Seignette's Salt Sodium potassium tartrate (Rochelle's salt) (NaKC4 H4 O6 ).

Selenite The various minerals forms of Calcium sulphate (CaSO4 ).

Selenitic Spar Any mineral assigned to the family of "spars" that could be calcined like gypsum (CaSO4 . 2H2 O).

Semi-Metals Substances which have the properties characteristic of metals except for ductility and which sublime. Different chemists had different lists, but most included antimony (Sb), arsenic (As); bismuth (Bi), cobalt (Co), and Zinc (Zn). Some included mercury (Hg) and, later in the century, nickel (Ni).

Sena (Senna) Several similar plants of the genus Cassia from the leaves of which gummy and resinous extracts were obtained.

Senegal A gum extract from the root of the North American species Polygala senega.

Senna See Sena.

Separationg-Glass A vessel narrow at the top, then bellying out in the center, and narrowing again to a hollow tube or stem. Shaped somewhat like the modern spearatory funnel anbd often used for similiar purposes.

Serpentine A steatite, usually green.

Shoot When crystals appeared, especially suddenly in a saturated solution, they were said to "shoot".

Siderum Iron phosphide (Fe3 P).

Silex Silicon dioxide (SiO2 ).

Silicious Earth (Silcia) Silicon dioxide (SiO2 ).

Similor A copper zinc alloy with a color approximating that of real gold.

Slaked Lime Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 ).

Smalt A blue, glassy substance used as a pigment. The blue comes from cobaltous oxide (CuO). Smalt also contains silica (SiO2 ).

Smelting The process opf extracting a metal from its ore.

Smo(a)king Spirit of Libavius Primarily stannous chloride (SnCl2 ) but with chlorides of mercury mixe d in.

Smo(a)king Spirit of Nitre Concentrated nitric acid (HNO3 ).

Snow of Antimony See Flowers of Antimony.

Soap In general, any chemical combination of acids, bases, or salts with oils that exhibit detergent action. Common soap was the product of sodium hydroxide with an oil or fat.

Soap of Glass Manganese dioxide (MnO2 ) in its role of agent to remove color bodies from glass while the glass is molten.