For example, this site tells that the taste of Copper sulfate, (which is very dangerous for consumption) is of "metallic, nauseating taste" and as many dangerous chemical compounds often have taste descriptions, does this mean people eat them to taste test?
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2$\begingroup$ Yes, perhaps many years ago... and some of those rather cavalier experimentalists are no longer with us. Read acsh.org/news/2016/02/14/fluorine-element-hell or blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2010/02/23/…, for some other examples. $\endgroup$– DrMoishe PippikJun 3, 2019 at 2:58
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1$\begingroup$ Related: How do people know HCN smells like almonds?; How do we know a nerve agent is tasteless?; Do all salts taste salty? $\endgroup$– andselisk ♦Jun 3, 2019 at 4:23
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$\begingroup$ Newton in his older age was experimenting with testing of chemicals, including mercury compounds what is considered as reason for his related neurological problems. $\endgroup$– PoutnikJun 3, 2019 at 7:20
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$\begingroup$ Also, while working, you get to taste and smell a lot of things. Knowledge and regulations protect us, but I know the smells of hundreds compounds that I didn't deliberately smell or want to smell. If you would apply copper sulphate to trees or grape, you will get a feeling of its taste. (If not nowadays, surely it was at our grandparents time). Think of gluing something, too. $\endgroup$– AlchimistaJun 3, 2019 at 10:19
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1$\begingroup$ Ah, tasting. I guess tasting was more frequent in time of alchemy than it is now. $\endgroup$– PoutnikJun 4, 2019 at 20:31
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