There was a time when the church had books control. Knowledge was not common. Alchemy was beginning of chemistry we have today. Because of the control of the church, there was a law concerning the contents of manuscripts. Early alchemists hid their work because the punishment was heavy.
Alchemists could not turn metal into gold because gold is an element.
they eat it
Because the alchemists learned by trial and error they never tried to take their observations and draw conclusions.
they developed tools and techniques.
Isaac Newton.
The goal was more psychological than spiritual. The alchemists were attempting to cure the "darkness of midlife". The psychologist Carl Jung studied the work of the alchemists for decades, and believed that hidden within their writings, were psychological explanations for their work.
The ability to not understand that alchemy doesn't work.
yes there are some recent alcemists they work for NASA
The study of Alchemy was a precursor for the study of Chemistry.
Cerium was not known by alchemists.
Because the secret is that alchemy doesn't work.
The alchemists were unaware that atoms even existed.
Alchemists study and practice Alchemy which is considered a protoscience. While Alchemists are real people with a real purpose, the field they practice has not been proven real, as yet, by scientific protocol. Using a loose definition, you could call chemists modern alchemists. But there were real alchemists who's main goal was to change one substance into another, usually this a cheap metal, like lead, into gold. Though the methods were primitive, the concepts are considered important work towards modern chemistry.
Most of the strongest Alchemists appear to be men.
Alchemists. Alchemists.
As secretive as a secluded fawn
it is a secretive word it is a secretive word