Alchemy is often defined as a pseudo-scientific predecessor to
chemistry that sought to transmute base metals into gold, produce
an elixir to prolong life indefinitely, produce a panacea or
universal remedy, and produce an 'alkhest' or universal solvent.
Alchemy is actually about all possible transmutations (changes of
state and form) of all matter. Alchemy' is believed to have
originated in China around 2500BC, and traveled through Asia and
India before appearing around 300BC in Egypt and Greece.