- Alchemy originated as an ancient practice of using symbols and experiments on metals in attempts to prolong life and transform metals like lead into gold. - Over time, contributions from various civilizations like the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Arabs and Muslims, and Europeans advanced alchemical techniques and understanding. - By the 16th century, alchemists had separated into two groups - one pursuing the pseudoscience of immortality and transmutation, while the other helped discover new compounds through scientific experimentation, contributing to the emergence of chemistry as a modern science.

1. Atomos, Aristotle and Alchemy
Physical Science

2. Objectives:
(S11/12LT-IIbd-6)
At the end of the lesson, the learners are able to:
Describe the contributions of the alchemists to the science of chemistry
1. Identify the people behind the progression of alchemy to chemistry
2. Perform differentiated activities showing the discovery of
chemistry from alchemy
3. Appreciate the influences of alchemy on the discoveries made
from chemistry

3. Review
Sing & Pass!
..videoplayback.mp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=TWyW9MYrMVQ

4. What can you observe from these pictures?
4
MOTIVATION
AncientSymbols Experiments Metals
ALCHEMY ( al–Khemia) = ancient origin of chemistry
= use of symbols and do
experiments on metals

5. 5
The students will
combine the elements
to form at least 5
different substances.
From the resulting
combination, the
students can still add
one element to form
another substance.
LITTLE ALCHEMY 2
Little Alchemy
Activity Proper
ICE
Water
ICE
GLACIER
Air
Earth

6. ALCHEMY
6
Definition
Art of transmuting metals
Mixing of different elements to form new ones
ELIXIR OF LIFE
PHILOSOPHER’S STONE

7. 7
Mesopotamians Egyptians
Indians Arabs and Muslims
Chinese
Europeans
Notable civilizations that have significant contribution to alchemy.

8. STORY OF ALCHEMY
The Power of PowerPoint | thepopp.com 8
Lesson Discussion
VISION
TARGET
PASSIO
N
MESOPOTAMIANS:
techniques to utilize metals like gold and copper.
They even assigned certain symbols to match
metals with the heavenly bodies such as the Sun
and Moon. They also made use of other materials
such as dyes, glass, paints, and perfumes.
EGYPTIANS:
adapted techniques from the
Mesopotamians and perfected the
use of bronze, dye and glass that
the Greeks later copied.
CHINESE:
had their own processes for
metalwork and ceramic materials,
but they especially focused on
finding minerals, plants and
substances that could prolong life
(elixir of life).

9. STORY OF ALCHEMY
9
Lesson Discussion
VISION
TARGET
PASSIO
N
INDIANS:
had a kind of alchemy (rasayana) that looked at
different substances and practices for Vedic
medicine. This is tied closely to Hindu and
Buddhist beliefs. They also perfected the use of
iron and steel and were well-known
manufacturers of dyes, glass, cement, solutions
for textiles, and soap.
MUSLIMS AND ARABS:
Scholar Jabir Ibn-Hayyan (Geber)
translated the practices and
Aristotelian thinking of the Greeks
and wrote extensively on how
metals can be purified. He came up
with the preparation of acids such
as nitric, hydrochloric and sulfuric
acids, as well as aqua regia (nitro-
hydrochloric acid).
EUROPEANS:
Paracelsus believed the human
body works alchemically and
proposed the three essentials or
tria prima: salt, mercury and sulfur
to maintain balance on health He
used inorganic salts, minerals and
metals to treat illnesses.

10. CHEMISTR
Y
Eventually, by
the 16th
Century, the
alchemists in
Europe had
separated into
two groups.
MODERN
ALCHEMY

11. CHEMISTR
Y
continuing the search for
immortality and the
transmutation of base
metals into gold.
PSEUDOSCIENCE
MODERN
ALCHEMY
discovery of new
compounds and their
reactions
SCIENCE

12. 12
SKIT
Create a short skit showing how
ancient people are looking for a way
to change metals into gold and the
“elixir of life” as means of prolonging
life
DRAW
On four sheets of bond paper, create
a comic strip showing how ancient
people use alchemical approach in
their daily lives
SING
Create a short jingle expressing how
did the practice of alchemy evolved
into the science of chemistry
Activity: Skit, Sing and Draw
The students will be grouped into three and each will be
given the following situations showing how chemistry was
discovered through alchemy.
1 2 3

13. Scoring Rubrics
13
Activity: Sing, Draw, Skit
Presentation
(4) Detailed conclusions are
reached from the evidence
offered.
(3) Conclusions are reached
from the evidence offered.
(2) There is some indication of
conclusions from the evidence
offered.
(1) No conclusions are made
from the evidence offered.
Active
Participation
(4) All the members performed
their roles well.
(3) Some members performed
on the average.
(2) Only few of the members
performed.
(1) The group failed to perform
well.
Audience
Impact
(4) Standing Ovation, with heavy
clapping and amazement from
the class
(3) heavy clapping and
amazement from the class
(2) clapping and amazement
from the class
(1) No reaction from the class

14. Question!
The Power of PowerPoint | thepopp.com 14
Application
Like alchemy,
how does
chemistry
pursue its
search for the
“elixir of life”?

15. The Power of PowerPoint | thepopp.com 15
Modern Chemistry
Researches
University of California–San
Francisco biochemists identified a
memory-boosting chemical in
mice, which might one day be
used in humans to improve
memory.
Cheaper clean-
energy technologies
could be made
possible thanks to a
new discovery by a
professor of
chemistry at Penn
State University.
The Duke Cancer
Institute found that
an osteoporosis
drug stopped the
growth of breast
cancer cells, even in
resistant tumors.
These are just a few examples of how
modern chemistry carries on the
alchemical quest for the elixir of life

16. Generalization
The Power of PowerPoint | thepopp.com 16
Who are the
people behind
the creation of
alchemy?
Chinese
Europeans
Mesopotamians
Indians
Arabs and Muslim
Egyptians
How did
alchemy
evolve into the
science of
chemistry?
Through the contributions of
different people, their ancient
methods that eventually led to the
use of standardized procedures.
What are the
influences of
alchemy on the
products of
chemistry we
are using today?
Experimentation
Documentation
Continuous researches

17. Trivia!!
Lead into Gold???
The Power of PowerPoint | thepopp.com 17
Lead (atomic number 82) and gold (atomic number 79) are
defined as elements by the number of protons they possess.
Changing the element requires changing the atomic (proton)
number.
The number of protons cannot be altered by any chemical
means.
However, physics may be used to add or remove protons and
thereby change one element into another. Because lead is
stable, forcing it to release three protons requires a vast input
of energy, such that the cost of transmuting it greatly
surpasses the value of the resulting gold.
Good news! It was already achieve in Siberia! 

18. SHORT QUIZ
The Power of PowerPoint | thepopp.com 18
ASSESSMENT
Answer the following questions.
1. What was believed by the alchemists as the material that could
transform base metals into gold?
2. Who invented gunpowder instead of the elixir of life?
3. Give three techniques Jabin Ibn Hayyan used in his experiments.
4. According to Paracelsus, what are the tria prima that is important in
bringing balance to one’s health?
5. Why did alchemy failed to become a discipline in science?

19. See you again next meeting!
Any Questions?