Iron gall ink
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Iron gall ink is a purple-black or brown-black ink made from iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources. It was the standard ink formulation used in Europe for the 1400-year period between the
Oak galls and iron(II) sulfate, ingredients of iron gall ink
Homemade ink. On left, a solution of iron (from nails) and vinegar. On right, oak extraction. The two are mixed immediately prior to use to produce the ink, centre.
Homemade iron gall ink in use, displaying the delayed darkening of the ink
Ink corrosion: iron gall ink causes paper and parchment to disintegrate
Iron(II) sulfate
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Iron sulfate or ferrous sulfate denotes a range of salts of iron with the sulfate ion with the formula FeSO4·xH2O. The blue-green heptahydrate is the most common form of this material. The hydrated fo
Iron gall ink
…the 5th and 19th centuries, remained in widespread use well into the 20th century, and is still sold. The ink was traditionally prepared by adding some iron(II) sulfate (FeSO4) to a solution of tannic acid, but any iron ion donor can be used. The gallotannic acid was usually extracted from oak galls or galls of other…
Sample of iron(II) sulfate heptahydrate