All alchemy articles
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ResearchSecrets of the purple smoke of first high explosive created by alchemists revealed
Microscopy study uncovers why fulminating gold releases colourful fumes
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OpinionEmbracing oddities
When new chemistry looks like alchemy or witchcraft, it’s worth taking notice
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NewsBotanists, chemists and historians come together to recreate ancient alchemy of making mercury
Fourth century BC alchemical methods for obtaining metallic mercury from the mineral cinnabar revisited
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PodcastTin chlorides
The compounds that put the 'tin' in tin cans and help you to reflect on your appearance
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PodcastAqua regia
Capable of dissolving gold and platinum to help make 99.999% pure metals, aqua regia deserves its royal status
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NewsNewton’s recipe for alchemists’ mercury rediscovered
Isaac Newton’s handwritten copy of a 17th century alchemy paper has been bought by US historians
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OpinionA shared secret?
Do chemistry and alchemy have a common ancestor, or are they separated by science, asks Philip Ball
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FeatureAlchemy on the page
Books used by alchemists offer insights into the relationship between these early chemists and their texts. Philip Ball investigates
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FeatureA fresh look at alchemy
Lawrence Principe cracks the alchemists’ codes and discovers the sophisticated chemistry they used
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