The History of Chemistry Alchemy to Chemistry

The Beginnings Weapons Medicine Soap making

Ancient Greeks 4 elements: earth, air, fire, water

Paracelsus (born 1493) Man consisted of three elements SALT (the body) SULFUR (the soul) MERCURY (the spirit) He thought he could rearrange the amounts of the elements to change man. He desired immortality and searched for a mystical elixir of life.

Alchemy Allegedly, this substance would turn cheap metals into gold. In Europe, alchemy was the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone (the elixir, the Sorcerer’s Stone).

transmutation In ordinary chemical reactions, we cannot transmute elements into different elements. changing one substance into another  Philosopher’s Stone

Alchemy Alchemy and Chemistry were initially synonymous Alchemists were somewhat like magicians. –Purported elixirs, physical immortality

 Alchemy Symbols

Alchemy symbols for substances GOLDSILVERCOPPER IRONSAND transmutation: changing one substance into another 

. Contributions of alchemists: lab apparatus / procedures alloys The Alchemist, by David Teniers

Contributions (continued) The elements mercury, sulfur, and antimony were discovered by alchemists Element properties Preparation of acids

Alchemy was practiced in many regions of the world, including China and the Middle East. Arrived in western Europe around 500 C.E. Modern chemistry evolved from alchemy.

By 1943, the supply of copper metal was in short supply Pennies were made with steel during WWII Pennies Before 1982, all pennies were copper (except 1943). After 1982, pennies were made from copper plated zinc. A shortage of copper drove the price of copper up in the early 1980s.

COPPER“SILVER” “GOLD” Penny into Gold - Alchemist Dream