Argent vive, inĀ alchemy, is synonymous with mercury or quicksilver “the cold, moist receptive seeds of metals” which were united with the hot, dry active seeds of sulphur in order to produce theĀ philosopher’s stone. A.G.H
Source:
Drury, Nevil.Ā The Watkins Dictionary of Magic. London. Watkins Publishing. 2005. p. 23