Talk:Principle (chemistry)

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In pre-modern chemistry and alchemy, principles were the five fundamental substances believed to constitute all bodies. Three of these were called active or hypostatical principles: salt; sulfur, or oil; and spirit, or mercury. The salt was supposed to be the foundation of all savors; the sulfur, of odors; and the spirit, or mercury, of colors. The two passive or elementary principles were phlegm (or water), and earth (or caput mortuum).

Possible references which could not be confirmed are:

• "Principle". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. 2nd ed. 1989.
• Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. 1913.
• Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). [some article] Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (first ed.). James and John Knapton, et al.

The usage of "Principle" varied with the author.Rgdboer (talk) 21:50, 7 August 2014 (UTC)