vitriolic acid

In 1750, Gottlieb Lorenz introduced vitriolic acid distilling into Bockau.

After returning to Britain in January 1775, he continued his experiments and discovered vitriolic acid air (sulfur dioxide, SO).

From gravelly ores mined in the area, such as pyrite, which yield sulphur salts (vitriol) came, after weeks of heating and "cooking" in stone vats, concentrated sulphuric acid, also called vitriolic acid.

For it were strange indeed, and not very creditable to us white-skins, if a little of our blood mixed with the African's, should, far from improving the latter's quality, have the sad effect of pouring vitriolic acid into black broth; improving the hue, perhaps, but not the wholesomeness."

On 3 May 1787 Keir communicated to the Royal Society some "Experiments on the Congelation of the Vitriolic Acid", and on 1 May 1788 "Remarks on the Principle of Acidity, Decomposition of Water, and Phlogiston".