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ALCHEMY ARTICLE IV

Alchemical Processes (Part I)


1. Ablation
The separation of a component by removing the upper part, sometimes by skimming it off the surface or by wicking it up using a feather or cloth.
2. Albification
The making of the matter in the alchemical work become white.

3. Ablution
The purification of a substance by successive washings with a liquid.

4. Amalgamation
Formation of an amalgam, or alloy, of a metal with mercury. This term is sometimes extended to mean any union of metals.

5. Ascension
When the active or subtle part rises up in the flask, usually by heating.

6. Assation
The reduction of a substance to a dry ash by roasting.

7. Calcination
The breaking down of a substance by fierce heating and burning usually in an open crucible.

8. Cementation
Acting upon a substance by mixing it in layers with a powdered (often corrosive) material, such as lime. This mixture is then be made to react and weld together by heating to a high temperature in a cementing furnace.

9. Ceration
The making of a substance to soften and appear like wax. This is often accomplished by continually adding a liquid and heating.

10. Cineration
The reduction of a substance to ashes by heating.

11. Circulation
The purification of a substance by a circular distillation in a pelican or closed distillation apparatus. Through heating the liquid component separates, is condensed and descends again to the substance in the flask.

12. Coadunation
Another term for coagulation.

13. Coagulation
The conversion of a thin liquid into a solid mixture through some inner change, as with the curdling of milk. This can be accomplished by a variety of means - by the addition of a substance, by heating or cooling.

14. Coction
The cooking or heating of a substance at a moderate heat for an extended period.

15. Cohobation
The frequent removal of the moist component of a substance by heating. Often the moist component (or some other liquid) is added and the process continued.

16. Colliquation
The conjuction or melting together of two fusible substances.

17. Coloration
Tinging a substance by adding a dye or coloured tincture. Colouring can by either by tinging the whole body or by producing a surface coating.

18. Combustion
The burning of a sustance in the open air.

19. Comminution
The reduction of a substance into a powder, either by grinding, pulverising, or forcing it through a sieve.

20. Composition
The joining together of two different substances.

21. Conception
The marriage or union of the male and female aspects of substances.

22. Concoction
The cooking or heating of a mixture of substances at a moderate heat for an extended period.

23. Congelation
The conversion of a thin flowing liquid into a congealed thick substance, often by heating.

24. Conglutination
The conversion of a substance into a gluey mass, often by a putrefaction.

25. Conjunction
The joining of two opposite components, often seen as the union of the male and female, the subtle and gross, or even the elements.

26. Contrition
The reduction of a substance into powder only by means of fire.

27. Copulation
A conjunction, or joining of two opposite components, seen through the metaphor of the union of the male and female, or the union of the fixed and the volatile.

28. Corrosion
The eating up of a substance by an acid, alkali or corrosive material.

29. Cribation
The reduction of a substance to a powder by forcing through a sieve or mesh.

30. Crystallization
The formation of crystals out of a solution of the substance usually in water, either by their gradual formation from the liquid, or by evaporation of the liquid.

31. Dealbation
The making of the black substance of the alchemical process become brilliant white.

32. Decoction
The digestion of a substance in the flask without the addition of any other material.

33. Decrepitation
The crackling and spliiting apart of substances, for example common salt, on heating.

34. Deliquium
The reduction of a solid placed in a damp place to a liquid by its absorbing water from the air.

35. Descension
When the subtle or active part of a substance is made to go down to the bottom of a flask, rather than ascend as a vapour.

36. Dessication
The drying or removal of all the moisture in a substance.

37. Detonation
The explosive burning of substances on heating, for example substances mixed with nitre.

38. Digestion
The slow modification of a substance by means of a gentle heat.

39. Disintegration
The breaking down or dissociation of a substance into different parts.

40. Dispoliaration
The dissolving or transforming of a dead substance into a liquid.

41. Dissociation
The breaking down or disintegration of a substance into different parts.

42. Dissolution
The dissolving or transforming of a substance into a liquid.

43. Distillation
The separation of a volatile component from a substance by heating so as to drive off the component as a vapour which is condensed and collected in a cooler part of the apparatus.

44. Divapouration
An exhalation of dry vapours from a substance, which can occur at different degrees of heat.

45. Division
The separation of a substance into its elements.

46. Ebullition
An effervescence produced through fermentation.

47. Edulceration
The washing of a salty substance till all the salts are removed.

48. Elaboration
The general term for the process of separating the pure from the impure, and leading a sustance towards perfection, which can be done through a variety of means and processes.

49. Elevation
The raising of the subtle parts of a substance upwards, away from the bodily residues, into the upper parts of the vessel.

50. Elixeration
The conversion of a substance into an elixir.