[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KDf4LaQfcU]Stuff They Don't Want You to Know - Alchemy - YouTube[/ame]
Alchemy was the study (well more of a belief) that common and inexpensive materials (brass, copper, etc..) could be turned into precious metals (gold, silver, etc..) by means of a chemical process. Assuming of course that's what you meant...
al·che·my /ˈalkəmē/ Noun 1 The medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter, esp. that of base metals into gold. 2. A process by which paradoxical results are achieved or incompatible elements combined with no obvious rational explanation. Bacterial Alchemy Generates 24-Karat Gold | Inspiring Discoveries | Science | Epoch Times
"Alchemy is the art of liberating parts of the Cosmos from temporal existence and achieving perfection which, for metals is gold, and for man, longevity, then immortality and, finally, redemption. Material perfection was sought through the action of a preparation (Philosopher's Stone for metals; Elixir of Life for humans), while spiritual ennoblement resulted from some form of inner revelation or other enlightenment (Gnosis, for example, in Hellenistic and western practices)." Alchemy laid the foundation for modern chemistry and medicine.
Alchemy is just chemestry but with a cool name In fact the word CHEMestry is derived from the word alCHEMy
I posted a thread about the microbial/bacterial version in here the other day, there are a few interesting links, but it isn't quite the same. This stuff is pretty interesting to me, I am a metals fan...
Maybe new age alchemy is. The term alchemy comes from a time when they believed chemical reactions were caused by magic. It was still the same thing just a different time/belief If you take college chemestry they sometimes teach you old alchemical symbols
You said it yourself, alchemy is not just chemistry with a cool name. History of Alchemy from Ancient Egypt to Modern Times. EDIT: In reality it is just chemistry. Not arguing that. But it's also not... There was a belief attached to it. A belief in magic or spirituality. Whatever.
^ Its primitive chemistry, just like shamanism or traditional medicine is a primitive form of modern medicine.