Verifying the Composition of Sealed Historic Objects: Analytical Studies of the Clemens Winkler Collection (Part 2)

The Clemens Winkler collection at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, established by chemist Clemens Alexander Winkler in the 19 th century, contains ≈1400 inorganic chemical samples. In part 1 of this series, we analyzed objects for which the synthesis route could be reconstructed from the analytical data. Here, we examine 31 further objects using high‐energy synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence and X‐ray diffraction at the P21.2 beamline of PETRA III at DESY. The analyses aimed to verify the identity of substances in sealed glass ampoules and investigate their historical origins: “ Antimontrichlorid ,” “ Bariumferrat ,” “ Boraluminium ,” “ Caesium ,” “ Chromtrichlorid ,” “ Ferrichlorid ,” “ Ferrosulfat ,” “ Gallium ,” “ Germanium ,” “ Indium ,” “ Indiumoxid ,” “ Jodsäure ,” “ Kaliummonodsulfid ,” “ Kaliumtetrachromat ,” “ Manganchlorid wasserfrei ,” “ Natriumtetravanadat ,” “ Nickel krystallisiert ,” “ Nickelchlorid~ ,” “ Nickelchlorid sublimiert ,” “ Phosphorpentasulfid ,” “ Phosphortrisulfid ,” “ Rohtellur von Schmenitz ,” “ Rubidiumjodidchlorid ,” “ Schlipp’sches Salz ,” “ Selen ,” “ Selen krystallisiert ,” “ Silicium‐Kupfer ,” “ Sperrylit ,” “ Tellur ,” “ Titandisulfid ,” and “ Zirkon .” The results confirmed the phase purity of many samples and revealed impurities that provided insights into historical production techniques. Several compositions were linked to synthesis routes described in 19 th ‐century literature, while the collection also documents material exchange between scientists of that era. Furthermore, the analyses helped to clarify the content of objects with unusual or inconclusive terminology on the label.