/oss/taxonomy/term/2709/all en /oss/article/quirky-science-science-science-everywhere/bitterly-scathing-or-caustic-remarks-can-be-said-be-vitriolic-what-chemical-term-associated <p style="text-align:justify">Sulphuric acid, which has the traditional name, “oil of vitriol.” It is a nasty, corrosive liquid, making “vitriolic” an apt term for virulent language. At first it may seem odd that the term “vitriol” derives from the Latin meaning glass, since glass is an inert material. But there is a reasonable explanation. The earliest method of making sulphuric acid relied on heating naturally occurring minerals composed of sulphates. These compounds can exhibit quite different colors but they all have a decidedly “glassy” appearance.</p> Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:17:44 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1888 at /oss