زئبق
Egypt
14th Century
Source: Al-Himyari, Zahr al-Basatin fi 'Ilm al-Mashatin, edited text.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
قلي, زئبق, الصمغ العربي
Preparation Steps
Take alkali (Qali) and add four dirhams of mercury (Zi'baq), grinding them together thoroughly (p. 141). Add a portion of Arabic gum and write with the mixture. Once the writing is dry, it must be burnished/polished with a cloth to reveal a appearance like white silver (p. 141).
Original Recipe Text
Take alkali (Qali) and add four dirhams of mercury (Zi'baq), grinding them together thoroughly (p. 141). Add a portion of Arabic gum and write with the mixture. Once the writing is dry, it must be burnished/polished with a cloth to reveal a appearance like white silver (p. 141).
Evidence
"تأخذ قلي... وتضيف إليه أربع دراهم زئبق ، وتسحقه سحقاً جيداً وتضيف إليه من الصمغ العربي جزءاً وتكتب به . فإذا نشف يسقل بخرقة ، فتظهر الكتابة كالفضة البيضاء"
Remarks
Footnote 3 on page 141 identifies 'Qali' as alkali derived from plant ashes, often synonymous with sodium hydroxide or potassium carbonate in these contexts.
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionHg
Certainty Level
Probable
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
Binderالصمغ العربي
Colorبيضاء كالفضة
RegionEgypt
Approx. Year1350
Source Information
AuthorAl-Himyari, Zahr al-Basatin fi 'Ilm al-Mashatin, edited text.
CollectionUnknown
Language
N/A
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