Aqua Regia
Rumour has it they were pulling teeth from the dead and the living. Birkenau crematoria became goldfields. Fillings, melted down, were reverted into bullion to fund the Third Reich. So, when Copenhagen chemist George de Hevesy was entrusted with the medal, he used reverse alchemy to keep it hidden. The solution: aqua regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid that dissolves gold. George placed the amber beaker on the shelf. Gold yields no interest when it is invisible. When the war was over, he recast the liquid precipitate, and returned the Nobel Prize medal to the Jewish scientist.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleBrief, blunt and heartwarming.
Interesting story. I love it when I can learn something new. Well done.
I also enjoy learning something new, Roger. I had not heard the story of the chemist melting down the medal. There seems to be no limit to the atrocities that man can inflict on his fellow man; but there is also no limit to man’s kindness, resilience and creative thinking under impossible circumstances. Thanks for the story, and welcome to the club!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleRoger I can’t add to what Fuji has said. But just to repeat – Welcome to the Club
Welcome to the club, Roger.
Hi Roger. Interesting and informative, your story! Chemistry acts like magic, wrapping gold with invisibility. Very nice story.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleShort, yet with such an impact to the reader. Nicely done, Roger!