Is alchemy possible - "transmuting base metals into gold"?

Question

Is this really possible? Or not? Did Middle Ages people believe it like they believed Earth was flat?

I could really use some links! Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Alchemy led to the development of chemistry, largely by a lot of trial and error.  Without a solid concept of an atom (and some would say a decent periodic chart) it is not obvious how gold is different from copper and silver, other than color.  Once it is understood that gold is am element, than chemical transformations won't do anymore, one needs an atomic particle accelerator.  As you can imagine, they are quite expensive, and they tend to change a few atoms at at time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy

Gold Bug

Answer 2

Alchemy is fascinating!

Try these websites:

http://www.levity.com/alchemy/

http://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/index.ht...

Answer 3

Yes, it's possible.  However, the alchemists believed it could be done through chemical means, and this is impossible.  It would involve a change in the atomic structure of the metals, and this can only be achieved through nuclear methods.

http://discovermagazine.com/2007/dec/20-...

Item 13

You can google others for yourself.  Just include the word "nuclear" in your search.