Abstract
The history of discovery of nitric acid in Europe at the beginning of the 14th century is discussed, and its subsequent use in both alchemy, and crafts. Attention is paid to the old terminology of this compound.
The production of nitric acid is described including chemical reactions occurring in the course of this process. Two approaches are described in deeper details, used by alchemists and craftsmen as well, the first served for purification of gold, and the second one for the alleged transmutation of base metals into gold.