The History of Chemistry

The beginnings of chemistry, or alchemy, as it was first known, are mingled with occultism and magic. Interests of the period were the transmutation of base metals into gold, the imitation of precious gems, and the search for the elixir of life, thought to grant immortality.

Alchemy: was an early system of thinking about nature that contributed to the development of the modern science of chemistry.

Objectives: their main objective was to find the Philosopher’s Stone and use it for two things: (1) to find ways of accelerating the rates at which metals were thought to "grow" within Earth in their development toward perfection (gold) and (2) to accomplish a similar perfection in humans by achieving eternal life.Alchemy developed extensively during the Middle Ages, cultivated largely by itinerant scholars who wandered over Europe looking for patrons.

The earliest alchemical practices also are believed to have arisen in China in the fourth century B.C. The main emphasis in Chinese alchemy, it seems, was the search for human immortality. In their search for an elixir (special liquid) they sometimes created poisonous potions; several emperors died after drinking them. Such spectacular failures eventually led to the disappearance of alchemy in China.

Chinese alchemists were the major force behind the early invention of gunpowder. Emperor Wu Di (156-87 B.C.) of the Han dynasty financed research done by the alchemists on the secrets of eternal life.

The basic ideas of element and compound were first formulated by the Greek philosophers during the period from 500 to 300 B.C. Opinion varied, but it was generally believed that four elements (fire, air, water, and earth) combined to form all things.

Empedocles was a Greek philosopher from Agrigento. It was him who established four ultimate elements which make all the structures in the world - fire, air, water, earth. Empedocles called these four elements "roots", which, in typical fashion, he also identified with the mythical names of Zeus, Hera, Nestis, and Aidoneus.

Democritus was also a Greek philosopher and originator of the belief that all matter is made up of various, indivisible elements which he called atoms.

Atom: is the smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical properties of that element. An atom has an electron cloud consisting of negatively charged electrons surrounding a dense nucleus.Aristotle unites the theory of the four elements and of the atom to form a new theory. He suggests that there are two pairs of alternatives - hot and cold, moist and dry - which provide the exact nature of matter. In broad terms the four possible combinations are the four elements. He also adds a fifth element called Ether that represents all other substances.

One main goal of the alchemists was to produce gold from other substances, such as lead — presumably by the interaction with a mythical substance called the philosopher's stone. Modern-day particle physicists can transform lead into gold with their advanced and expensive particle accelerators. This is a very expensive process.

The Philosopher´s Stone: is a legendary substance, supposedly capable of turning inexpensive metals into gold; it was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality.

Oxygen was first discovered by Swedish pharmacist Carl Wilhelm Scheele and Joseph Priestley. Because he published his findings first, Priestley is usually given priority in the discovery.

Alchemists thought Sulfur was responsible for combustion and therefore must be related to the element fire.

Proust’s largest improvement into chemistry was disproving Berthollet with the law of definite proportions, which is sometimes also known as Proust’s Law. The law of definite proportions and also the elements states that a chemical compound always contains exactly the same proportion of elements by mass.

Johann Joachim Becher was a German alchemist known for his development of the Phlogiston theory that states that all flammable materials contain phlogiston, a substance without color, odor, taste, or mass that is liberated in burning.Antoine Lavoisier was known as the “father of modern Chemistry” because he stated the first version of the law of conservation of mass,[2] recognized and named oxygen (1778) and hydrogen (1783), disproved the phlogiston theory, introduced the metric system, wrote the first extensive list of elements, and helped to reform chemical nomenclature.
Antoine Lavoisier was known as the “father of modern Chemistry” because he stated the first version of the law of conservation of mass, recognized and named oxygen (1778) and hydrogen (1783), disproved the phlogiston theory, introduced the metric system, wrote the first extensive list of elements, and helped to reform chemical nomenclature.

Chemistry Class Quiz

What is Alchemy?
Early system of thinking about nature that contributed to the modern science of Chemistry.

Who invented the gunpowder?
The Chinese

Which Emperor financed the researches of the Alchemists for the eternal life?
Emperor Wu Di.

Why did Alchemy disappear in China?
Because of the failures of the alchemists in their search for eternal life, and the deaths of emperors because of the potions made by alchemists.

Who was the first philosopher to establish the four elements?
Empedocles.

How did Empedocles also identified these elements?
Zeus, Hera, Nestis and Aidoneus.

Who invented the theory of the atom?
Democritus.

Who added the Fifth element, and what does it represents and how is called?
Aristotle, it represents everything else that is not earth, water, air and fire, it is called ether.

Why Priestley has priority over Wilhelm in their discovery?
Because he published his discoveries first.

What is the substance without color, odor, taste or mass?
That is Phlogiston.

Who stated the first version of the law of conservation of mass, and is known as father of Chemistry?
Antoine Lavoisier.