Alchemy Pseudo-Science

Many philosophers of science and historians have certain prejudices that lead them to view alchemy as a “pseudo-science”. However, this black magic science is responsible for much of our understanding of modern day chemistry. Alchemy has definitely played a role in the growth and founding of science; it is what taught ancient chemists about what counts as an experiment and how to think about matter at its most basic level. By expanding into two different categories, one can see why alchemy should be considered an important science.

The first category to consider is the equipment and techniques used by alchemists that have been passed on to the modern day scientist. They invented tests tubes, the closed crucible and the retort all of which are still used today in modern labs. Alchemists discovered certain techniques that are known as the seven operations of alchemy, or the process of transformation. These operations had three components that the alchemists considered – what it means chemically, psychologically and physiologically. They are calcination, dissolution, separation, conjunction, fermentation, coagulation and the most important operation, distillation. Distillation is a key process on all levels of alchemy; it is the heating of a substance until it boils, and then condensing the vapors into a purified liquid. It was used to spread knowledge of distilled spirits of wine and through experimenting with it they discovered mineral acids. Mineral acids are useful in testing and producing pure gold and silver. This concept of acids and alkalis play an important role in the formation of chemistry as a separate discipline.

Some more examples of techniques that were created by alchemists is when Hale developed a pedestal app...

... middle of paper ...

... the growth and founding of science; it is what taught ancient chemists about what counts as an experiment and how to think about matter at its most basic level. Through the two categories stated in this essay one can see why it should be considered an important science. The equipment and techniques proved that alchemists gave modern day scientists the basis for their experiments. Alchemists have discovered phenomena’s of disengagement and fixation, and the notion of phlogiston, which are crucial for today’s scientists. Through the way they see the world proves the separation between alchemy and chemistry. They have also discovered the concept of distillation that led to concepts of acids and alkalis. As for the four-element theory and the corpuscular theory, these helped develop modern day scientists’ views and also breached the gap between alchemy and chemistry.