English for Chemists

 
Goals:
•
To find the "philosopher's stone," an elusive substance that was believed to make possible the 
creation of an elixir of immortality and the transmutation of common substances into gold.
•
In the later Middle Ages, to use alchemy as a tool in the advancement of medicine.
Achievements:
•
Medieval alchemists produced hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, potash and sodium carbonate.
•
They were able to identify the elements arsenic, antimony, and bismuth.
•
Through their experiments, medieval alchemists invented and developed laboratory devices 
and procedures that are, in modified form, still used today.
•
The practice of alchemy laid the foundation for the development of chemistry as a scientific 
discipline. 
Adapted from: http://historymedren.about.com/od/alchemy/p/alchemy.htm 
 
6. Were the goals of alchemy achieved? 
 

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7. What are the goals of modern chemistry? 
There were often many symbols for an element. For a time, the astronomical symbols of the planets 
were used to denote the elements. However, as alchemists came to be persecuted, particularly in 
medieval times, secret symbols were invented. This led to a great deal of confusion, so you will 
find some overlap of symbols. The symbols were in common use through the 17th century; some 
are still in use today.
8. Look at the following symbols that alchemists used. Can you guess which elements they 
symbolize? One element can have several symbols. 
 
copper tin mercury gold silver air earth fire iron salt 
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Adapted from: http://chemistry.about.com/od/periodictableelements/ig/Alchemy-
Symbols/index_t.htm