If liver of sulfur gets on your skin remove clothing to expose the affected area and rinse in running water for fifteen minutes. If this substance gets on your eyes, rinse in running water for fifteen minutes, occasionally moving your lower and upper eyelids apart to expose more of your eye to the water. Seek medical attention. If you swallow liver of sulfur, induce vomiting immediately and seek medical attention.
Cold water and more dilute solutions should work fine when treating copper, and allow more control over the exact color. [2] X Research source Using warm water or hot water may darken your copper faster, but never mix liver of sulfur with boiling water, as this produces harmful gas.
If your copper object is too large to dip into the solution, use a brush to apply the solution, or transfer the solution to a wider, shallower container.
If the color changes are minor, try heating the copper in a pan of hot, but not boiling, water. Higher temperature should produce a more dramatic color change. If the color is not dark enough, try mixing in 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) pure ammonia into the solution. Adding additional ammonia may result in a reddish color, rather than black. [3] X Research source
If the color change has progressed too far, or if you would like to create a more uneven, antique look, gently scrub the patina with steel wool or a paste made from baking soda and a few drops of water. Baking soda may also be added to the liver of sulfur solution after you’re done. This will neutralize the liver of sulfur and allow you to safely dispose of it down the sink.
If creating a brown patina with baking soda and water, no safety precautions are required.
The more salt you add, the greener the patina will be.
The green patina tends to be more powdery and easier to rub off than the brown one.
