The History of Chemistry Writing

Gold Gold is one of the seven metals of alchemy (gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead, iron & tin). For the alchemist, it represented the perfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul.

Phosphorus Alchemists often used light as a symbol of the spirit, therefore they were especially interested in light that seemed to be trapped in matter such as phosphorus. Some glow-in-the-dark substances contain phosphorus Phosphorus element is easily ignited and is used in matchsticks.

Arsenic The elemental alchemy symbol arsenic was used for medicinal and magical cures. A compound of arsenic and sulfur were said to induce trances of enlightenment and philosophical ascension and direction.

Mercury Alchemists were convinced that mercury transcended both the solid and liquid states, both earth and heaven, both life and death. Mercury is one of the seven metals of alchemy (gold, silver, mercury, copper, lead, iron & tin).

Copper Copper may well be the oldest metal in use (for producing mirrors) owing to its lustrous beauty. The element represents love, balance, beauty, and artistic creativity

Alchemy Origins Probably began in Egypt - based on early records. The discipline is a blend of astrology, chemistry, magic and occultism, together with ideas derived from religious systems and other obscure sources.

Alchemy Origins Chemical techniques and instruments to: Transform base metals, such as lead & mercury, into precious metals e.g. silver & gold Discover the philosopher's stone/elixir of life - substance which was also said to have the power to give eternal life.

Alchemist Symbols

Famous Alchemy Practitioners Antoine Lavoisier Isaac Newton John Dalton

Da lton’s Chemical Symbols 1808 John Dalton – the Atomic theory Each symbol represented one atom Formula of a compound was made up of the symbols of its elements, and the no. of atoms present in the molecule

Dalton’s Chemical Symbols

Da lton’s Chemical Symbols 1808

Jons Jacob Berzelius 1813 Swedish chemist who worked out a simpler system that scientists use today First letter of the Latin name for each element When two names start with the same letter, the first two letters is used for one of the element (e.g. C and Ca)

References Book-of-Chemistry-Experiments Book-of-Chemistry-Experiments f f medieval-chemistry-and.html medieval-chemistry-and.html AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ALCHEMY AND EARLY CHEMISTRY BY David A. Katz (2008)