Gold parting of the salt cementation process. This mixture is then added to an earthenware pot and layered with thin sheets of gold fold. The pot is then sealed and heated in a furnace. It was during the medieval period that distillation was discovered and the first description of nitric acid production was given by Pseudo-Geber in the "Summa perfectionis", 1330. Nitric acid is able to dissolve silver. The addition of sal ammoniac to nitric acid creates Aqua regia and this acid is able to dissolve gold. Both acids are used in the acid method of parting but the acids were expensive
Sulfuric acid gas and salts (the metal sulfate). It attacks reactive metals (metals at positions above copper in the reactivity series) such as iron, aluminium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and nickel. However, concentrated sulfuric acid is a strong oxidizing agent and does not react with metals in the same way as other typical acids. Sulfur dioxide, water and ions are evolved instead of the hydrogen and salts. It can oxidize non-active metals such as tin and copper, depending upon the temperature. Lead and tungsten, however, are resistant to sulfuric acid. Hot concentrated sulfuric acid oxidizes non-metals such as carbon (as bituminous coal) and