Ancient Alchemy

Alchemy emerged independently in Hellenistic Egypt, China, and India as a blend of practical metallurgy, philosophical speculation, and mystical spirituality. Alchemists sought to transform base metals into gold and discover an elixir granting immortality.

Though their theoretical framework was fundamentally flawed, alchemists developed essential laboratory techniques — distillation, sublimation, and acid preparation — that would later serve genuine chemistry.