What Was the Real Goal of Alchemy?
Many people think that the primary goal of the alchemists was to turn base metals such as lead into gold. While it is true that great wealth was desired, the ultimate goal of alchemy was far broader than that. Alchemists sought to create a substance called the “philosopher’s stone.” This mysterious material had the power not only to transmute lead or mercury into gold, but to cure all human ills and prolong life indefinitely. In liquid form the philosopher’s stone could dissolve any other material. In short, alchemists were seeking magical powers. The word alchemy probably derives from the Arabic term al-kimiya, which itself evolved from khemia, the ancient Greek word for Egypt. In other words, alchemy was an attempt to revive the mystical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.
Many well-known early scientists, including Sir Isaac Newton, studied alchemy. As they experimented with different substances in their search for the magic elixir, they gained useful knowledge about these materials and the processes used to analyze them, even creating a rudimentary periodic table of the elements. Alchemists used such techniques as distillation, chemical extraction of ores, and the development of acids and other compounds based on a growing understanding of the elements. Therefore over time the goal of alchemy shifted from the search for magical power and wealth to the quest for knowledge itself. In the 17th century the alchemist Robert Boyle coined the term “chemistry” to reflect this new science. Boyle is best remembered for his advances in the study of gases; “Boyles Law” is named after him.
Thus, what started as a medieval quest for wealth and power evolved into a focused field of study that helped lead to the scientific method and the beginning of the Renaissance, setting the stage for the advances in civilization and technology that we enjoy today.
Many people think that the primary goal of the alchemists was to turn base metals such as lead into gold. While it is true that great wealth was desired, the ultimate goal of alchemy was far broader than that. Alchemists sought to create a substance called the “philosopher’s stone.” This mysterious material had the power not only to transmute lead or mercury into gold, but to cure all human ills and prolong life indefinitely. In liquid form the philosopher’s stone could dissolve any other material. In short, alchemists were seeking magical powers. The word alchemy probably derives from the Arabic term al-kimiya, which itself evolved from khemia, the ancient Greek word for Egypt. In other words, alchemy was an attempt to revive the mystical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.
Many well-known early scientists, including Sir Isaac Newton, studied alchemy. As they experimented with different substances in their search for the magic elixir, they gained useful knowledge about these materials and the processes used to analyze them, even creating a rudimentary periodic table of the elements. Alchemists used such techniques as distillation, chemical extraction of ores, and the development of acids and other compounds based on a growing understanding of the elements. Therefore over time the goal of alchemy shifted from the search for magical power and wealth to the quest for knowledge itself. In the 17th century the alchemist Robert Boyle coined the term “chemistry” to reflect this new science. Boyle is best remembered for his advances in the study of gases; “Boyles Law” is named after him.
Thus, what started as a medieval quest for wealth and power evolved into a focused field of study that helped lead to the scientific method and the beginning of the Renaissance, setting the stage for the advances in civilization and technology that we enjoy today.
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