Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone

A Brief History with the Nature of an Alchemist's Goal

Aug 26, 2009

In medieval times, alchemists worked to turn base metals into gold, but they also searched for the legendary philosopher's tone and the elixir of life.

Alchemy was a medieval form of chemistry. Variations were practiced centuries before, but alchemy as a science didn't show itself until much later. Its main purpose was to discover methods of changing base metals into gold. But the early alchemists also wanted to find the elixir of life. At a time when so many died young or suffered plague and other diseases, the elixir was a hope for a cure and a long life.

The Spiritual Nature of Alchemy

The changing of metal to gold is called transmutation. The philosophical view was a change from illness to good health, old age to youth and even a spiritual or supernatural life after death. What was important to the alchemists was money, good health, long life and even immortality.

The Philosopher's Stone

Alchemy was a science with many disciplines. It studied nature and philosophy and various forms of chemistry, metallurgy, astrology, mysticism, medicine, physics and spiritualism.

The alchemists devoted much of their time searching for the legendary and mythical "philosopher's stone." They believed it was the key to the knowledge they needed for both the elixir and the transmutation of base metals to gold. The philosopher's stone was expected to make the alchemist brilliant. Anything they wanted to produce, they could. It was important they find it.

Discoveries in Early Alchemy

Even without the "stone," the alchemists were a well-respected group. When they weren't toying with the unattainable, they practiced other chemical sciences, made numerous discoveries, much of which are in use today, though perhaps in less primitive forms. Gunpowder, ink, glass and ceramics were largely created based on those early alchemist's findings.

The Classical Elements

Unlike the chemical elements of today, the ancient Greeks, Indians and Egyptians used the classical elements of earth, fire, air and water. These elements formed the basis of alchemy until a theory by Jabir ibn Hayyan in the 9th century, was dusted off and accepted in the middle ages. Alchemists then took a more metaphysical view, but alchemy was also holding its own as a serious science.

The European renaissance scientists did, however, strongly believe in spiritual purification before metal transmutation could take place and much of their work was along these lines.

Modern Chemistry

But in the 18th century, another page was turned. Modern chemistry was taking its first baby steps. Scientists wanted precise measurements and accuracy with leanings more toward medicine than the mythical philosopher's stone.

Modern Alchemy

Traditional Alchemy did have a bit of a come-back in the 20th century, when according to Thomson Gale in Atom from a World of Physics (Thomson Corporation, 2005), physicists were actually able to change platinum atoms to gold atoms. It took a nuclear reaction to do it, but the gold atoms were unstable and only lasted for a few seconds. Still, those ancient alchemists would have been delighted.

Resources

The copyright of the article Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone in Chemistry is owned by Lorraine Syratt. Permission to republish Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.