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ALCHEMY

ALCHEMY. By Lucero Chavez. Alche …what?. Defined as : the medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy whose aims were the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for diseases, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life .

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ALCHEMY

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  1. ALCHEMY By Lucero Chavez

  2. Alche…what? Defined as :the medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy whose aims were the transmutation of the base metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for diseases, and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life

  3. Ok, so what is it? • Alchemy is the precursor to many of our modern sciences such as chemistry or physics. • Contrastingly, alchemy has its basis in philosophy and more spiritual ideology than what we generally believe today. • It is often called a “protoscience” since it opened the path to modern science.

  4. But why??? • The primary goal of alchemy is “transmutation,” in other words, change. • Alchemists hoped to achieve the greatest good for humanity

  5. Change what…? ? Some examples of this “greater good” through change are: Passing from sickness to health Moving from earthly life to the supernatural after death finding the philosopher’s stone turning base metals into gold and silver discovering the elixir for eternal youth

  6. Where does it come from? THREE MAJOR REGIONS: THREE MAJOR REGIONS:

  7. Origins: Began in Ancient Egypt, from the concept of mummificationand the desire for immortality, which led to chemical knowledge. Spread west when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and then again when the Arabs entered. Began independently in Asia and India

  8. Western (European) Alchemy European alchemy began around the time of the Crusadesand throughout the Medieval Ages. Alchemy itself existed as a legitimate science for at least 1700 years Died down in the 1400’s due to the increase of charlatans who would profit from fooling with their “magic.”

  9. Western (European) Alchemy cont. • Discoveries: • Roger Bacon (Medieval England) studies combustion in air and discovered how to purify it. He is also said to have obtained the philosopher’s stone. • Thomas Vaughan is said to have achieved the transmutation of metals • Men like Arnold de Villanova, theologian and alchemist, were often persecuted, and accused of getting their knowledge from the devil. (especially during the Inquisition) • Contrastingly, Raymond Lully balanced Christianity with alchemy. He published 486 treatisies which make historians believe “Roamond Lully” was just a pseudonym for many authors. Roger Bacon

  10. Chinese Alchemy • Chang Tao Ling is the most sounded name in Oriental alchemy, quoted from ancient records of sound 35 A.D • He retreated to the mountains where he studied and meditated • Supposedly received the elixir of eternal life from Lao-tzu • Demonstrates a connection between alchemy and taoism.

  11. Arabian Alchemy • Popularized around the 3rd century (one of the oldest) • Alchemy before that period was burned by Diocletian • One of the most renown figures is Geber, or AbouMoussahDjfar-Al Sell who wrote The Investigation of Perfection • First to lablesevral compounds like nitrate as corrosive • Rhasis was able to transmutate metals into gold

  12. Modern Alchemy • Whereas alchemy itself is not as common nowadays, it remains as the root of chemistry and even physics. • We continue working on transmutation and many of its basic principles. • There are forums and conventions where you can become an alchemist (careful with scams) • As humans, we are still obsessed with the same concepts: youth, death, virtue, etc • Here’s the proof: Check out what they said in the NY Times here

  13. But just for fun… • Want to become a real alchemist? 583 × 753 - en.wikipedia.org

  14. Here’s how in 3 easy steps…

  15. FIRST: Pick your poison. • There are two types of Alchemy: • Practical which focuses on curing the ill (yes, like a mystical doctor) • Spiritual which focuses on the philosophy of the pseudoscience.

  16. SECOND: Learn this plus all the chemical knowledge you can get.

  17. THIRD: Believe This! • 1. Every thing in the universe contains its opposite, e.g., light and dark or love and hate. • 2. The essence of Everything is contained in every Thing, as the poet Blake described seeing “a world in a grain of sand.” • 3. You have the ability to choose what you wish to focus on. • 4. What you choose to focus on, in your mind, will expand. • 5. Once your level of internal focus reaches a critical mass, you will begin to look for and see evidence of it in your outer world. • 6. Knowing every thing contains the essence of everything, you will now be able to see that which you are looking for in that which you are looking at.

  18. OR

  19. …just become a chemist 

  20. REMEMBER:

  21. Sources: (including images) http://www.alchemylab.com/history_of_alchemy.htm New York Times http://www.levity.com/alchemy/ http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/index.htm http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/history.htm l http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/tubb/history.htm http://whewellsghost.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/newton-and-alchemy-a-constant-surprise/ crystalinks.com Chemical Heritage Foundation

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