Alchemy PowerPoint Presentation - Chemistry
- 1. Chemistry
- 3. Alchemy vs. Chemistry The Alchemist The Alchemist’s Dream Zinc Pennies Alchemy vs. Chemistry Pure Science Applied Science Aluminum Mining Corning Glass Fertilizers (5-15-10) Areas of Chemistry Stereotypes of Chemists A Career in Chemistry Forensic Scientist The Scope of Chemistry Starting Salaries
- 4. Alchemy The Greeks called this “chemia,” after the Egyptian word “Chem,” which also meant black. Chem was the Egyptians’ name for their own country. Some people thought that chemia meant “black magic,” since some of the processes the Egyptians were using seemed like magic.
- 5. Alchemy When the Arabs later conquered Egypt, they added the prefix “al” which means “the.” So it became “al chemia” And later in English, it was called alchemy. And that was appropriate because for a while, alchemy was as much phoney-baloney magic as it was real science.
- 6. Alchemy The ancient Greeks were thinkers. They talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. The ancient Egyptians, on the other hand, were a practical people and invented a lot of things. They made the first glass, and dyes and medicines, for example.
- 7. The Alchemist Frankly, I’d be satisfied if I could turn gold into lead! Alchemy was the search for the philosophers stone, a liquid that would change cheap metals into gold
- 8. The Alchemist’s Dream COPPER “SILVER” “GOLD” Zinc coated Brass = Copper + Zinc Penny into Gold - Alchemist Dream
- 9. Copper was used to make bullet shells in WW II. By 1943, the supply of copper metal was in short supply. The US government did not want to ‘waste’ copper on making pennies. Pennies were made with steel metal. They looked silver. Zinc Pennies Before 1982, all pennies were solid copper (except 1943). After 1982, pennies were made from zinc. A thin coating of copper was pressed on the zinc. A shortage of copper drove the price of copper up in the early 1980s. If melted down, the copper could be sold for more than one cent.
- 10. “I think you’ve crossed that thin line between transmuting and cooking.” ALCHEMISTS AT WORK
- 11. Paracelsus was a famous alchemist who actually discovered salt in about 1530. Salt had been known for thousands of years, but he realized some of its “properties” and was probably the first person to realize that elements could come together to form compounds, which are totally different from the elements they are made from. Paracelsus also is credited with discovering zinc. The alchemist in the picture may or may not actually be Paracelsus, but it’s a famous painting of one.
- 12. Paracelsus Man consisted of three elements SALT represented the body SULFUR the soul MERCURY the spirit He thought he could rearrange the amounts of the elements to change man. He desired immortality and searched for a mystical elixir of life.
- 13. The Beginnings The Greeks believed there were four elements. early practical chemistry: household goods, weapons, soap, wine, basic medicine earth air fire water D ~ ~ D ___ D ___
- 14. Timeline 2000 1000 300 AD American Independence (1776) Issac Newton (1642 - 1727) 400 BC Greeks (DemocrItus ~450 BC) Discontinuous theory of matter ALCHEMY Greeks (Aristotle ~350 BC)) Continuous theory of matter
- 15. Alchemy Allegedly, this substance would turn cheap metals into gold. In Europe, alchemy was the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone (the elixir, the Sorcerer’s Stone).
- 16. transmutation In ordinary chemical reactions, we cannot transmute elements into different elements. changing one substance into another COPPER GOLD Philosopher’s Stone
- 17. Early Ideas on Elements Robert Boyle stated... – A substance was an element unless it could be broken down to two or more simpler substances. – Air therefore could not be an element because it could be broken down in to many pure substances. Robert Boyle
- 18. Alchemy • After that 'chemistry' was ruled by alchemy. • They believed that could take any cheap metals and turn them into gold. • Alchemists were almost like magicians. – elixirs, physical immortality
- 20. Alchemy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOLD SILVER COPPER IRON SAND Alchemical symbols for substances… transmutation: changing one substance into another In ordinary chemistry, we cannot transmute elements. D
- 21. GOLD SILVER COPPER IRON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SAND Alchemy (~500 – 1300 A.D.) Alchemical symbols for substances… transmutation: changing one substance into another the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone It was supposed to change cheap metals into gold. In ordinary chemistry, we cannot transmute elements. Contributions of alchemists: lab apparatus / procedures how to make some alloys properties of some elements The Alchemist, by David Teniers
- 22. Alchemy was practiced in many regions of the world, including China and the Middle East. Alchemy arrived in western Europe around the year 500 C.E. Modern chemistry evolved from alchemy.
- 23. Contributions of alchemists: Information about elements - the elements mercury, sulfur, and antimony were discovered - properties of some elements Develop lab apparatus / procedures / experimental techniques - alchemists learned how to prepare acids. - developed several alloys - new glassware
- 24. Alchemy vs. Chemistry Alike Different Chemistry Different Topic Topic Alchemy