![]() And some even claim that Adam knew something about alchemy. Historians haven't agreed on the origin or the age of alchemy : if we are to believe various fabulous tales, it's been around since the time of Noah. Therefore, based on the word itself, alchemy means sublime chemistry, chemistry par excellence. ![]() The word alchemy is composed of the Arabic preposition al meaning sublime or par excellence and of chemistry, which we will define at the appropriate place. Originally published as "Alchimie," Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, 1:248–249 (Paris, 1751).Īlchemy is chemistry of the subtlest kind which allows us to understand extraordinary chemical operations executing at a more rapid pace those things that require a long time for nature to produce as for example when, starting with mercury and sulfur alone, in only a few hours we can make a solid red material called cinnabar that is in every way identical to natural cinnabar that requires years and even centuries for nature to produce.Īlchemical operations are endowed with admirable and mysterious traits we must note that as these operations become better known they lose their unusual character and are then classified as ordinary chemical operations, as has been the case with lilium, panacea, the kermes mineral, emetics, scarlet dye, etc., and in the same way that things usually work in human affairs, chemistry has shamelessly appropriated the advantages it has gained from alchemy alchemy has been maligned in most chemistry books. Ann Arbor: Michigan Publishing, University of Michigan Library, 2003. ![]() "Alchemy." The Encyclopedia of Diderot & d'Alembert Collaborative Translation Project. of "Alchimie," Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, vol. Please see for information on reproduction. Their covert experiments, which generally involved heat and liquid mixing, resulted in the rise of modern chemistry.This text is protected by copyright and may be linked to without seeking permission. Alchemists believed that through transmuting, or changing an essential element into a greater form, lead could be "perfected" into gold, illnesses could be cured, and life could be extended. In English, alchemy and alchemist are older words than chemistry and chemist. Alchemy was studied by people from all around the world. Metals (such as gold or silver) were utilized by certain alchemists to represent spiritual or occult beliefs. They attempted to comprehend one by comprehending the other. They attempted to connect the dots between them. The alchemist's three main goals were to uncover the Philosophers' Stone (the Stone of Knowledge), discover the medium of Eternal Youth and Health, and learn how to transmute metalsĪlchemists believed that matter, mind, philosophies, religion, magic, and astrology were all connected. Alchemists attempted to turn lead or mercury into gold, creating the philosopher's stone. Alchemists were those who studied alchemy. ![]() Alchemy is based on the conversion of one substance into another, usually a base metal like lead or iron into a “noble” metal like silver or gold. The word alchemy is derived from the Arabic al-kimiyya, which is said to have originated in Greek. It also looked into the relationship between substances (and how they are converted into other substances) and magic and astrology.Īlchemy is a centuries-old activity that can be seen as a forerunner to chemistry. Hint: Alchemy is the ancient science and philosophy of transforming basic materials (such as metals) into other materials.
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