[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956) › c20.s3 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c20.s3: Patala Ix History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c20.s3 - **Language:** English ### Patala Ix ### [c20.s3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3.1) Vaikrānta (a mineral resembling diamond, spinel ?), kānta ‘a variety of iron’, sasvaka (‘blue vitriol’), mākshika ‘pyrites’, vimala ‘a variety of pyrites’, adri (‘bitumen ?’ \*darada\* ‘cinnabar’, \*rasaka\* ‘calamine’—these are the 8 \*rasas\*, and their essences are well suited for chemical operations. ### [c20.s3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3.2) Sulphur, \*gairika\* ‘red ochre’, \*kāśīśi\* ‘red-clay earth’, \*khechara\* ‘mica’, \*añjana\* ‘sulphide of lead and antimony’, \*kānkushtha\* ‘a medical earth—possibly magnesium or sodium sulphate’;—these are the \*uparasas\* ‘subsidiary rasas’. ### [c20.s3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3.3) Gold and silver are the noble metals. ### [c20.s3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3.4) Copper, brass, \*tīkshṇa\* and \*kānta\* ‘varieties of iron’ are the essential or substantial metals: lead and tin emit foetid odours. ### [c20.s3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3.5) The six salts are:— \*Sauvarchala\* ‘saltpetre’, \*saindhava\* ‘rock-salt’, \*chulika\* ‘sal-ammoniac’, \*sāmudra\* ‘sea-salt’, \*romaka\* (‘probably salt imported from outside’, and \*vidan\* (‘black salt’). ### [c20.s3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3.6) The alkalies are:—\*Sarjikākshāra\* ‘natron’, \*yavakshāra\* (‘potash’), and borax. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c20.s3) · Pramāṇa