Alchemy, The Foundation of Science

Alchemy and the Emergence of Chemistry Alchemy, an ancient science used all over the world for metallurgy and healing purposes. Alchemy is the science of converting elements by creating various concoctions through an array of other living things or minerals and transmutations of base metals such as lead to gold. It is the tincturing of metals chemically manipulating "prime matter" (mixture of lead, tin, copper, and iron) through a series of black, white yellow and purple stages (Brock, The Chemical Tree: A History of Chemistry 13). Alchemy’s purpose, the transmutation of an otherwise worthless metal to a refined, more perfected metal such as minerals to gold, and in some instances for human consumption believed to attain longevity and redemption. Hints of ancient alchemical practices are found in modern day China and throughout Europe.

Webster's Dictionary defines alchemy as “a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.” Alchemy can be performed many ways, like changing base metals into gold. Most alchemists say it is a very inexplicable transmuting. Others may say it is an exploration of a plethora of substances. Another group of alchemists believe it is a part of depth psychology. Whatever it may be it has changed the lives of people starting from the early civilizations of China and Egypt. This performance of alchemical experiments is still being performed today. You can always find something new and interesting when participating in alchemy. Alchemy is a never ending journey and I guarantee it will never bore you. You will always find something different; that’s what makes it majestic.

In the middle ages, alchemy covered a broad and complex group of operations and theories. Most frequently, alchemy describes “the art and science of transforming base metals into the noble metals, silver and gold” (Halleux 134). Alchemy also represented different aspects of each great civilization it developed in with distinct symbols and purposes. The term “alchemy” evolved from the Arabic “al-kimiya” which transformed as it transitioned into Latin and later English (“Alchemy,” New Dictionary). The first textual evidence of alchemy dates to around 400 CE (Grun 31), but it likely extends as far back as the invention of metallurgy itself. Alchemy later developed into the science of chemistry, pioneered by Francis Bacon and Robert Boyle who desired to incorporate the principles of alchemy into a proper science (Gribbin 146). Throughout history and throughout old world, alchemists studied alchemy for scientific reasons. Despite being persecuted in various places and times, alchemists continued to be a powerful force in the advancement of all three’s interests well into the Renaissance. Alchemy originated in China, where alchemists strove to create the elixir of life, but their goal transformed as the concept of alchemy travelled west.

Natural sciences have always interested mankind, and throughout civilization, we have sought to discover how the world works. This natural curiosity is best fueled by scientific thought and reason. Science is a constantly evolving area of study, and scholars in the previous centuries sometimes took a mystical view on science, one of these areas of study is alchemy. Many significant men contributed to the study of alchemy. Four of the most prominent include: Albertus Magnus, Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Allesandro Volta. Although their ideas are considered erroneous by modern standards of science, they still had important scientific investigations and influenced scientific advancements in centuries to come.

Rowling, J. K., and Mary GrandPré. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2003. Print.

Alchemy is a form of chemical philosophy of the Middle Ages that sought to discover methods of transmuting base metals into gold and an elixir of longevity. Today, the tales of these ancient alchemists have become mainstream in both books and film. These tales conjure images of ancient Greek philosophers tirelessly trying to create the philosopher’s stone, or old bearded men debating at a meeting of the Royal Society. To many, this is the only type of alchemy that ultimately developed into modern day chemistry. This Eurocentric view, however, fails to give credit to Chinese alchemists who also sought ways to prolong life and methods of metallic transmutation. Chinese alchemy took a distinct course from later Greco-Egyptian alchemy because they blended in Taoist beliefs and ideas of balance and harmony. For example, although both western and eastern alchemy had a similar fundamental purpose, and used similar methods, Chinese alchemists were more concerned about purifying the spirit and body and creating elixirs of immortality than creating gold. Additionally, though Greek alchemists disagreed on the effectiveness between herbal and mineral pharmacy, Chinese alchemists always accepted minerals as having healing qualities because Chinese alchemy was so closely related to traditional holistic Chinese medicine. While western alchemy is obviously an integral part of history, it is also important to remember the remarkable theories and countless contributions eastern alchemy, particularly Chinese alchemy, made to the world.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. New York City: Scholastic, 1997. Print.

From the Second Century B.C., Taoists and others believed it was possible to find an elixir which would make them immortal. An elixir is a sweetened alcoholic medicinal preparation, but back in ancient philosophy it was thought to be for changing base metals into gold, or for prolonging life. Research flourished because of this belief. But the chief ingredient, cinnabar, was found to be poisonous. Many imperial deaths ensued from this.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. New York, NY. Scholastic Press, 2005. Print.

Joanne Rowling, better known as J.K Rowling the author of the best-selling Harry Potter Series was born in Bristol in 1966. According to J.K, she had two best friends her in her neighborhood whose last name was Potter. She said, “I always liked their name” (Rowling). When she was nine, her family moved to Tutshill, Wales. It was around this time her grandmother, Kathleen passed away, “whose name I took when I needed an extra initial” (Rowling). After leaving her university she moved to London, then in 1990 she and her boyfriend moved to Manchester. According to J.K, the idea for Harry Potter simply fell into her head while riding a crowded train to London. In December 1990 her mother died at the age of forty-five from multiple sclerosis, which devastated her family and nine months later J.K left for Portugal, where she taught English. In 1996 Bloomsbury Publishing offered to publish Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, know in America as the Sorcerer’s Stone.