History of Chemistry
Alchemy?
What is Alchemy?
• Alchemy is the
ancient art of trying to
achieve wisdom and
immortality through
the manipulation of
elements.
• The origins of
alchemy are generally
unknown but we
believe it began in
Greece or Egypt.
Alchemist
• Their main goal was
the transmutation of
ordinary metals into
gold.
• Not just regular gold
though, gold that
could be ingested and
would cure all illness
and make you
immortal.
Proto-Chemistry
• Alchemy is considered
a pre-chemistry, or
proto-chemistry.
• Through alchemy we
have gotten herbal
remedies, alloys, and
most importantly a
desire to manipulate
the world around us!
Aristotle
• Believed everything
was made of a
combination of 4
elements.
• If you could figure out
the exact ratio of each
element in an object
you could recreate it!
Properties of Matter
• The Greeks believed
in 4 basic elements:
– Air
– Water
– Fire
– Earth
+ Aether (an invisible
substance making up
space. What light
travels through.)