Western alchemy and Paracelsus

Western alchemy was a tradition of practical chemistry and natural philosophy aiming to transform metals and prepare medicines; Paracelsus (1493/94–1541) redirected it toward medicine.

Established Latin alchemy grew from Arabic works translated in the twelfth century and flourished until the eighteenth. It contributed laboratory techniques to early chemistry.^[1] Established Paracelsus (Theophrastus von Hohenheim) argued that chemistry should serve medicine (later called iatrochemistry) and introduced the triad of salt, sulphur and mercury.^[2] Tradition / belief Alchemists described the Philosopher's Stone as able to turn base metals into gold and to heal.^[3] Established No alchemical transmutation of base metal into gold has been reproduced; modern nuclear physics can change elements, but not by chemical means.^[4]

References

↑ A.E. Waite, Lives of Alchemystical Philosophers (1888). public domain.
↑ A.E. Waite (ed.), The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus (1894). 2 vols; public domain.
↑ Waite (1888).
↑ Lawrence M. Principe, The Secrets of Alchemy (2013). Cited only.

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[1] A.E. Waite, Lives of Alchemystical Philosophers (1888). public domain.

[2] A.E. Waite (ed.), The Hermetic and Alchemical Writings of Paracelsus (1894). 2 vols; public domain.

[3] Waite (1888).

[4] Lawrence M. Principe, The Secrets of Alchemy (2013). Cited only.

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