Kunkel, Johann

Ammonia. Haim undo Lulio (Raymond Lully) mentioned caustic ammonia in the thirteenth century (36). Johann Kunckel (or Kunkel) von Lowenstem (1630-1702) described it in his posthumously published Vollstandiges Laboratorium Chymicum (37). He prepared it by adding lime to sal ammoniac (38). 

Kunkel von Lowenstern, Johann, "Vollstandiges Laboratorium Chymicum, ... 

MF was first prepd in ihe 17th century by Swedish-German alchemist Baron Johann Kunkel von Lowenstern living from 1630 to 1703 (Hackh s Diet gives 1638 as date of birth). He obtd this dangerous expl by treating mercury with nitric acid and alcohol. The method was described in the book of Kunkel published in 1716 after his death. This book is listed and the prepn is briefly described by... 

Mercury fulminate was first prepared in the 17th century by the Swedish-German alchemist, Baron Johann Kunkel von Lowenstern. He obtained this dangerous explosive by treating mercury with nitric acid and alcohol. At that time, Kunkel and other alchemists could not find a use for the explosive and the compound became forgotten until Edward Howard of England rediscovered it between 1799 and 1800. Howard examined the properties of mercury fulminate and proposed its use as a percussion initiator for blackpowder and in 1807 a Scottish Clergyman, Alexander Forsyth patented the device. 

The latter half of the seventeenth century is marked by the activity of a considerable number of able investigators and writers on chemistry, notable among whom are Nicolas Le Febre (or Le Febure), ( -1674) Christopher Glaser (died about 1670-1673) Eobert Boyle (1627-1691) Thomas Willis (1621-1675) Johann Kunkel (1630-1702) Johann J. Becher (1635-1682) John Mayow (1645-1679) Nicolas Lemery (1645-1715) and Wilhelm Homberg (1652-1715). All these men contributed to the increase of knowledge of the facts of chemistry by their researches and publications, which appeared from about 1660 to the close of the century. 

Two prominent names among the chemists of the seventeenth century were Johann Kunckel (or Kunkel) (1630-1703), and Johann Joachim Beclier (1635-1682). Kunkel was born in Holstein near Rendsburg. He was at first apothecary, but soon become interested in the problem of alchemy, and, for a time, endeavored to realize the conversion of base metals into gold. He was encouraged by... 

Mercury fulminate was first prepared in the 17th century by the Swedish-German alchemist, Baron Johann Kunkel von Lowenstem. 

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