Alchemy (0)

1)Which elements does alchemy combine?
Alchemy combines elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine , mysticism and religion .
2) 3 goals of alchemy
1.transmutation of any metal into gold or silver
2.creating universal panacea, remedy what would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinetely. – philospher´s stone was the key in these goals
3. creating human life
3) Idea of making gold and silver. Where does it originate and / how to Western Europe ?
The idea of transmutation arose among the Alexandrian Greeks in the early centuries of the Christian era, then it passed to Arabs and then from Arabs to Western Europe. Since then realization was very important to all chemical workers down to the time of Paracelus and even later .
4) narrow and wider meaning of alchemy
Narrow sense of the word, alchemy is pretended art of making gold and silver, or transmuting the base metals into the noble ones.
Wider meaning that it stands forthe chemistry of middle ages.
5)why is the philosophical principle important in alchemy?
Philosophical principle unified and focused chemical effort, which previously was expanded on acquiring empreical acquaintance. Alchemy is an early phase of the decelopment of systematic chemistry.
6)origin of the word alchemy, where does it come from, first used
It has an Arabic descent, prefix al is the Arabic article, second part comes from the Greek word chumeia, pouring used in the study of the juices of plants. It was first used in treatise of Julius Firmicus, and astrological writer of the 4 century .
7)why did it fall into disrepute?
It fell into disrepute, because alchemists became obsessed with their quest for the secret of transmutation, some used false methods of experimentations and many gained living from patrons.
8)which methods did they use to turn metals into gold?
They thought that lead could be improved into gold, they tried to speed up this process by heating and refininf the metal in a varietu of chemical processes, most of which were kept secret.
9)where was alchemy practiced?
Alchemy was practiced from China and India to Greece, it migrated to egypt during hellenistic period and was later revived in the 12th-century Europe
10)which discoveries did they make?
Alchemists made some useful discoveries- mineral acids, alcohol, their experimentations led to the development of pharamacology and the rise of modern chemistry.