Vitriol

Vitriol (derived from the Latin vitrum, 'glass') is a term which the early chemists applied to glass-like salts, distinguishing them by their colours into blue vitriol, green vitriol, and white vitriol. Blue vitriol is sulphate of copper (see COPPER). Green vitriol is the popular name for sulphate of iron (see IRON). For white vitriol, see ZINC. Oil of vitriol, or simply vitriol, is a name popularly given to commercial Sulphuric Acid (q.v.), the former in consequence of its oily appearance, and of its being formerly obtained from green vitriol. Elixir of vitriol is the old name for the aromatic sulphuric acid of the Pharmacopoeia.