https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2015.020
Published: Kem. Ind. 65 (1-2) (2016) 65−68
Paper reference number: KUI-20/2015
Paper type: Professional paper / Chemistry in Teaching
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How to Overcome the Alchemist’s Way of Thinking

N. Raos

Abstract

The history of alchemy is not simply the history of a futile search for the philosopher’s stone, neither the history of misunderstanding of the nature of chemical reactions; alchemy had its own theory of chemical changes that saw in them the processes of maturation. Physical properties of matter were essential to alchemists, and they were not only the results, but also the causes of chemical changes. This way of thinking is present even in our times, and it has to be overcome by systematic chemical education. In this contribution, a few examples of such thinking are given, including the belief in the “health benefits” of brown sugar.

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Keywords

alchemy, chemical education, history of chemistry, brown sugar