Master Geng (Chinese: 耿先生; pinyin: Gěng Xiānshēng; Wade–Giles: Kêng3 Hsien1-shêng1, died c. 975 CE) was a Chinese alchemist.[1]

Geng was employed at the Imperial Court. She distilled perfumes, and utilized an early form of the Soxhlet process to extract camphor into alcohol, and gained recognition for her skill in using mercury to extract silver from ores.[1][2]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Rayner-Canham, Marelene F.; Rayner-Canham, Marelene; Rayner-Canham, Geoffrey (2001). Women in Chemistry: Their Changing Roles from Alchemical Times to the Mid-twentieth Century. Chemical Heritage Foundation. ISBN 9780941901277.
  2. Maxwell-Stuart, P. G. (2012-03-01). The Chemical Choir: A History of Alchemy. A&C Black. p. 13. ISBN 9781441132970.


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