Reconstructing Historic Synthesis Routes: Selected Objects From the Clemens–Winkler Collection (Part 1)

The Clemens–Winkler collection at TU Bergakademie Freiberg contains approximately 1400 inorganic chemical preparations from the nineteenth century. It is an important resource for the history of chemistry, documenting major discoveries of the period and providing direct insight into historical chemical practices and knowledge. This study employed non‐destructive synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) to examine selected specimens in their original glass containers. The in‐situ approach, enabled by the high intensity of synchrotron radiation, allowed the samples to be characterized without damaging them. Thirteen specimens were analyzed. Five samples labeled “ Kaliumpentasulfid ” (), “ Chromtrioxid ” (), “ Vanadium ” (V), “ Strontiumtetravanadat ” (), and “ Natriumhexavanadat ” () were mixtures rather than pure target compounds, with the nominal phases present only in trace amounts. The specimen “Titan von Prof. Moissan Paris 1901 ” (Ti) consists of several titanium carbides and carbide–nitrides. “ Kaliumferrat ” () appears to have decomposed over time, producing and several Fe(III) ferrate phases. The remaining six specimens—“ Niob ” (Nb), “ Tantal ” (Ta), “ Cerhydrid ” (), “ Lanthanhydrid ” (), “ Yttriumhydrid ” (), and “ Kaliumplatinosesquicyanid ” () contain the named compounds alongside additional phases. These impurities provide evidence of the historical synthesis routes.