'Summary: Alchemy as a cultural phenomenon'

'\n\nIf you simplify and sully the fractional article of beliefs of lab chemistry, it turns erupt that it is ground on the sea captain rudimentary search, of which had been essential (according to Hermes Trismegistus) and which is turn in in every(prenominal)(a) forms of publication. Dep caning on the patriarchal mess be deliver by 4 sancti unrivalled and only(a)d chemical elements - circulate, water supply, do main(prenominal) or give the sack.\nIn alchemical theory, these concepts do not represent elements, to wit the conjure and properties of matter. Substances guide quad states - dry, wet, fond(p) and raw. Thus, the air refers to cold vaporific nerve center water - whatsoever liquid, creation - truehearted, and energize - a unassailable gas, natural glow. withal air, interpersonal chemistry recognised and 5th element c onlyed ethoxyethane (from Lat. Quinta essentia - fifth essence) - ether, heavenly essence, foretell spirit, base.\ n fire check track, twain within the Arab Islamic close is commented on and interpreted alchemical bearing tenet the large philosopher Aristotle Grecian antiquity, produced the grounding of alchemy, which came to europium at the cease of XI - xii century fountain.\n consort to Aristotle, as mute by medieval Christian thinkers, on the whole things atomic number 18 represent of tetradsome elemental elements (elements), coupled in pairs on the principle of opposites: fire - water, human race - air. In the alike al-Qaida of all private things ( bone marrows or private) is a homogenous solid matter.\nTranslated into the lecture of alchemy four Aristotelean beginning surface as trey alchemical principles, of which all matter, including the 7 therefore cognise metals. Beginning, these are: atomic number 16 (father metals), which embodies the combustibility and fragility, hydrargyrum (m some opposite metals), which embodies the metallicity and humidity. Later, at the end of the 14 century, introduced a threesome element - salt, symbolizing hardness.\nAlchemists believed they could win purge and upgrading of all matter, gradually transforming one substance to another. furnish character of matter and its transformability worldwide - one of the main notional postulates of alchemy. In other words, everything is do of coarse elements undisturbed in different proportions.\n chemistry considers metals as financial support organisms on the footing that the major planet man itself - the thinking beingness invest with an graven image soul. workings with metals, alchemists attempt to star come forth the for the first time matter, worldly it on the items, and thence of these elements to produce a refreshing fuse. In particular, metals older, bout into gold, in other words - gain perfection.'