[MR] I was wrong

[wflomer at bellsouth.net]

Thanks to Edward Hopkins (Alfredo el Bufon) for showing the error of my way.

alkali is arabic for plant ash, not just plants.  I would swear that I have read it somewhere in a textbook, probably a Physical Science book and never double checked it.  I mention it because it shows non-European influence in chemistry.  Especially since I teach at an HBCU. 

the only difference in chemistry and alchemy, in my opinion, is the level of understanding of the atom.

Walter
"in the search for true and knowledge"

> 
> From: "Edward Q. Hopkins" <guojia at earthlink.net>
> Date: 2001/05/11 Fri AM 11:18:43 EDT
> To: "The Merry Rose" <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
> Subject: Re: [MR] Quick Lime (Lye)
> 
> 
> 
> the most common source of hydroxide and carbonate in the alchemy world 
> was
> 
> ASH, there is a reason that Na2CO3 is called soda ash.
> 
>  
> 
> a little more alchemy, potassium and sodium are alkali metals, alkali 
> is
> 
> arabic for plants, and potassium derives it's name from pot 
> ash.
> 
> According to my dictionary,  the word "alkali"comes from
> 
> 
>  [Middle English alkaly   Arabic al-qali, for 
> al-qali, the ashes (of saltwort)   qalai, to roast in a 
> pan]
> 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/pipermail/atlantia-atlantia.sca.org/attachments/20010511/16ea9527/attachment-0020.htm>