Alchemy originated in ancient Egypt and was focused on attempts to transform cheap metals like lead into gold through mysterious elixirs or powders. While alchemists made some discoveries about elements and compounds, their work was not truly scientific. Chemistry emerged in the 17th century through the scientific work of scientists like Robert Boyle, who established criteria for what constitutes a chemical element. Modern chemistry evolved from the more mystical practices of alchemy as scientists applied rigorous experimentation and analysis to the study of matter.

1. Chemistry

2. How did
Chemistry
Become a
Science?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chemistry

3. Alchemy vs. Chemistry
The Alchemist
The Alchemist’s Dream
Zinc Pennies
Alchemy vs. Chemistry
Pure Science
Applied Science
Aluminum Mining
Corning Glass
Fertilizers (5-15-10)
Areas of Chemistry
Stereotypes of Chemists
A Career in Chemistry
Forensic Scientist
The Scope of Chemistry
Starting Salaries

4. Alchemy
The Greeks called this “chemia,” after the
Egyptian word “Chem,” which also meant
black.
Chem was the Egyptians’ name for their
own country.
Some people thought that chemia meant
“black magic,” since some of the
processes the Egyptians were using
seemed like magic.

5. Alchemy
When the Arabs later conquered Egypt,
they added the prefix “al” which means
“the.”
So it became “al chemia”
And later in English, it was called
alchemy. And that was appropriate
because for a while, alchemy was as
much phoney-baloney magic as it was
real science.

6. Alchemy
The ancient Greeks were thinkers.
They talked the talk but didn’t walk
the walk.
The ancient Egyptians, on the other
hand, were a practical people and
invented a lot of things. They
made the first glass, and dyes and
medicines, for example.

7. The
Alchemist
Frankly, I’d be satisfied
if I could turn gold
into lead!
Alchemy was the search for the philosophers stone,
a liquid that would change cheap metals into gold

8. The Alchemist’s Dream
COPPER “SILVER” “GOLD”
Zinc coated Brass = Copper + Zinc
Penny into Gold - Alchemist Dream

9. Copper was used to make
bullet shells in WW II. By
1943, the supply of copper
metal was in short supply. The
US government did not want
to ‘waste’ copper on making
pennies.
Pennies were made with steel
metal. They looked silver.
Zinc Pennies
Before 1982, all pennies were
solid copper (except 1943).
After 1982, pennies were made
from zinc. A thin coating of
copper was pressed on the zinc.
A shortage of copper drove the
price of copper up in the early
1980s. If melted down, the copper
could be sold for more than one
cent.

10. “I think you’ve crossed that thin line
between transmuting and cooking.”
ALCHEMISTS AT WORK

11. Paracelsus was a famous
alchemist who actually discovered
salt in about 1530. Salt had been
known for thousands of years, but
he realized some of its “properties”
and was probably the first person
to realize that elements could come
together to form compounds,
which are totally different from the
elements they are made from.
Paracelsus also is credited with
discovering zinc. The alchemist in
the picture may or may not
actually be Paracelsus, but it’s a
famous painting of one.

12. Paracelsus
Man consisted of three elements
SALT represented 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.

13. The Beginnings
The Greeks believed there
were four elements.
early practical chemistry:
household goods, weapons,
soap, wine, basic medicine
earth air fire water
D ~
~
D
___
D
___

14. Timeline
2000
1000
300 AD
American
Independence
(1776)
Issac Newton
(1642 - 1727)
400 BC
Greeks
(DemocrItus ~450 BC)
Discontinuous
theory of matter
ALCHEMY
Greeks
(Aristotle ~350 BC))
Continuous
theory of matter

15. 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).

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

17. Early Ideas on Elements
Robert Boyle stated...
– A substance was an
element unless it could
be broken down to two
or more simpler
substances.
– Air therefore could not
be an element because
it could be broken down
in to many pure
substances. Robert Boyle

18. Alchemy
• After that 'chemistry' was
ruled by alchemy.
• They believed that could
take any cheap metals and
turn them into gold.
• Alchemists were almost
like magicians.
– elixirs, physical immortality

19. Alchemy Symbols
Alchemy Symbols

20. Alchemy
. . . . .
. . . .
. . .
. .
.
GOLD SILVER COPPER IRON SAND
Alchemical symbols for substances…
transmutation: changing one substance into another
In ordinary chemistry, we cannot transmute elements.
D

21. GOLD SILVER COPPER IRON
. . . . .
. . . .
. . .
. .
.
SAND
Alchemy (~500 – 1300 A.D.)
Alchemical symbols for substances…
transmutation: changing one substance into another
the quest for the
Philosopher’s Stone
It was supposed to change cheap metals into gold.
In ordinary chemistry, we cannot transmute elements.
Contributions of alchemists: lab apparatus / procedures
how to make some alloys
properties of some elements
The Alchemist, by David Teniers

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

23. Contributions
of alchemists:
Information about elements
- the elements mercury, sulfur, and antimony were discovered
- properties of some elements
Develop lab apparatus / procedures / experimental techniques
- alchemists learned how to prepare acids.
- developed several alloys
- new glassware

24. Alchemy vs. Chemistry
Alike Different
Chemistry
Different
Topic Topic
Alchemy