Brief Historical Development and Contributions of Chemistry for Modern Civilization

Chemistry relates to everything we touch, see, smell, hear, and taste because atoms make up everything in the universe. Chemistry influences so much in our everyday lives that it is hard to think of an activity that does not involve a chemical process in some way. The science also plays a major role in the human body. Our bodies are made up of chemicals, in fact almost 96% of our body mass is made up of four different elements: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. Besides the physical way I am affected by elements, chemistry also majorly affects me in my line of work as a certified nursing assistant. As a certified nursing assistant I work in a nursing home and

An Alchemist (錬金術師, Renkinjutsushi) is one of the many remarkable individuals capable of studying and practicing alchemy. As the craft of alchemy requires a full understanding of chemistry, physics and ancient alchemical theory, alchemists are closer to scientists than magicians, but the ability to perform alchemy is also tied to an inherent talent for manipulating matter and energy, so not all people can become competent alchemists merely by

Alchemy was said to be the production of a new substance by experimenting and changing natural matters in a laboratory. These new products were regarded as artificial, as they did not occur naturally in nature (Pereira, 2000). Johann Friedrich Böttger was the first European to discover how to produce porcelain through alchemical means when commissioned to make gold for the Elector of Saxony, August the Strong. Böttger’s discovery proved how having knowledge of alchemy could prove to advantageous (Chang, 2007). Leonardo Fioravanti mentioned in his writings of having seen alchemical gold be made, but stated that the venture to create the gold was not productive enough to be of much profit (Eamon, 2000).

I would have to agree chemistry is a central science because it can be used in different aspects of science such as biology, medicine, physics and more. It brings a lot of the sciences together. Chemistry connects those other parts of science such as physical science. An example would be the makeup of how medicine is created and also how the body chemistry uses the medicine into the body.

Alchemy (Early Chemistry) was another science closely related to medicine. Alchemy was the name given to this science in Latin Europe in the 12th century. It was a belief that the human body was closely related to the stars and the heavens. Over hundreds of years, the main goals of alchemists were to turn any metal into gold and discover an elixir which could cure all ills or lead to immortality. This magical elixir was called the philosopher’s stone. Alchemy was based on the belief that there are four basic elements – fire, earth, air and water – and three essentials – salt, sulfur and mercury. The metals gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, and tin were all known before the rise of alchemy. The liquid metal, mercury, and the burning rock, sulfur, were also known. Many processes with these elements were known to alchemists. The art of alchemy was heavily spiritual. Alchemists were the first to try out different ideas and experiment with different elements, but because of their intense metaphysical and spiritual beliefs, they didn’t develop modern day scientific methods.

During the Renaissance, the Swiss alchemist Paraclesus believed in an element known as Alkahest, from which the classical elements Earth, Water, Air and Fire were derived. Paraclesus believed that finding this fabled element was the key to Alchemy, and transmuting Lead and Iron into Gold. Alchemy focused not just on the transmutation of elements, but also the connection to the Spiritual realm, and the healing of illnesses of the body with herbs (a practice still used today, despite advanced medicine). While Alchemy has been discredited as a legitimate science, advancements in

Alchemy was a turning point in the field of science during the Middle Ages, and paved the way for many of the greatest scientists in history, including Albert Einstein. Contrary to popular belief, alchemy is not just about “science,” but also about humans spiritually and mentally. Alchemy may have been lost over the course of many centuries, but it is still very much alive in our society today, through our relationships with other people and within ourselves. Robert of Chester’s translations of Arabic alchemical books allowed for the spread of alchemy throughout Europe beginning in 1200.

Alchemy is used to change one element into another and making material from existing elements. Alchemy was born in ancient Egypt. Most of the alchemist in Egypt try to change some common metal such as iron and lead into gold. Although most alchemist want to produce gold, many other alchemist use alchemy for medical purpose. They made medicine by using alchemy and also most of the alchemists want to create panacea which can cure any disease. In addition, alchemy starts in a complex spiritual throughout the world in which everything around us contain a universal spirit. Alchemist see the metals not only unique substance but instead this is a way to develop and refine their way to spiritual perfection.

It was a practical and theoretical practice that was found all over Europe (ibid). Roger Bacon, a thirteenth-century scholar, proclaimed,”Theoretical alchemy theorizes about all inanimate things and about the whole generation of things from the elements. There is also an operative and practical alchemy, which teaches how to make precious metals and pigments, and many other things better and more plentifully than they are made by nature,”(ibid).In other words, the practical sense of alchemy dealt with “brass making, goldsmithing, and assessing the noble metal content of ore, jewelry, or coins,” while the theoretical side to alchemy dealt with the composition and origin of the elements around us. Marcos Martinón-Torres, a Ph.D student in archaeological sciences at University College London’s Institute of Archaeology, has studied the ancient artifacts, mainly the remains from the laboratory since it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1590, from one of the best-preserved Renaissance laboratories (Pinkowski 28). Some of the artifacts include the vessels

Alchemy is mainly concerned with discovering different methods of changing ordinary metals into gold or to find a universal elixir. It is a form of chemistry practiced in the Middle Ages. The journey of Alchemy takes place in Egypt where the word Khem had been applied in reference to the fertility of the food plains near the Nile. Egyptian beliefs in the hereafter and mummification procedure probably gave rise to rudimentary chemical knowledge and a goal of immortality. Later, Greek had conquered Egypt where the ways of Egyptians intrigued Greek philosophers. Greek views of how matter is contained of the 4 elements of nature had been merged with Egyptian sacred science. The Greek word for Egypt resulted in “Khemia” The Arabs added the word

Meanwhile, Analytical chemistry is the branch of chemistry involved with studying of materials, and their properties, as well as developing tools to analyze materials, and physical chemistry is the branch of chemistry that applies physics to the study of chemistry. Then lastly, biochemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical reactions that occur inside living organisms.

Chemistry has been called the science of what things are. Its intent is the exploration of the nature of the materials that fabricate our physical environment, why they hold the different properties that depict them, how their atomic structure may be fathomed, and how they may be manipulated and changed.

Chemistry is “the study of composition properties, and reactions of matter particularly at the level of atoms and molecules”. (dictionary.com) There are many branches to chemistry for

Alchemy is considered the precursor to modern chemistry. When you think of chemistry, usually you think of an exact science; something very meticulous. Truthfully, it is. To be accurate and to obtain precise and desired results, it must be accurate. Alchemy, however, was not an exact science, it was a primitive approach to the elements and usually they looked to a deity to actually initiate chemical reactions. Thus we separated them, but for good reason. In today's time we us instruments to give us exactness and precision that mankind had formerly ignored. Throughout time you will see that mankind has used chemistry to solve its most complex of problems and build a world that 7 billion people have come to know as home.

The earliest knowledge of chemistry was in 3500 B.C in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Chemistry was concerned anything that was pottery, dyes or crafts that were developed but not considerable skills because no one truly understood its purpose. The basic idea of elements or compounds were first formulated by Greek philosopher during 500 to 300 B.C when people believed fire , water, earth, and air combined to form all living and non-living things. In the beginning of Christianity an ancient Egyptian and Greek philosopher were fused into the new ideas of science, starting with little experiments such as turning metal into gold or imitation of precious gems. Later on people such as Robert Boyle, Robert Hooke and John Mayow were just the few people