| Themes > Science > Chemistry > About Chemistry Generalities > A Brief History of Chemistry - Alchemy |
During this long era many alchemists believed that metals could be converted to gold with the aid of a mystical "thing" called a philosophers stone. The philosophers stone was never found, however many discoveries of new elements and compounds were made during this period. In the early 13th century alchemists like Roger Bacon, Albertus Magnus and Raymond Lully began to realize that the search for a philosopher's stone was futile. They believed that alchemists would better serve the world by discovering new products and new methods to improve everyday life. This started a trend in which alchemists gave up on finding the philosophers stone. An important leader in this movement was a Swiss by the name of Theophrastus Bombastus. Bombastus felt that the object of alchemy should be the cure of the sick. He believed that salt, sulfur an would give health if they were present in the body in proper proportions. This was the first period of iatrochemistry. The last influential chemist in this era was Robert Boyle. In his book, "The Sceptical Chymist" Boyle rejected the leading scientific theories of his day and started the list of elements which are still recognized today. He also formulated a law relating to the volume and pressure of gasses. In 1661 he founded a scientific society which later became known as the Royal Society of England. |
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