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
Alchemist Symbols
Famous Alchemy Practitioners
• Antoine Lavoisier
• Isaac Newton
• John Dalton
Dalton’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
Dalton’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
• http://www.scribd.com/doc/21654883/The-GoldenBook-of-Chemistry-Experiments
• http://www.chymist.com/Names%20and%20symbols.pd
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• http://alchemipedia.blogspot.com/2009/11/alchemymedieval-chemistry-and.html
• AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ALCHEMY AND
EARLY CHEMISTRY BY David A. Katz (2008)