Principles Of Alchemy

Part A : Multiple Choice (2 pts/question)
1. Many alchemists have tried very hard to turn _______ into _______.

a. Mercury, gold
b. Silver, gold
c. Tin, gold
d. Lead, gold

2. The following symbol represents...

a. Sulfur
b. Mercury
c. Silver
d. Iron

3. Which alchemist said that alchemy is a way of manipulating life?

a. Professor Snape
b. Nicholas Flamel
c. Roger Bacon
d. Jean Dubuis

4. The Emerald Tablet contains _____ rubrics.

a. 2
b. 5
c. 7
d. 12

5. The four known elements that Roger Bacon studied are:

a. Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen
b. Water, fire, earth and air
c. One, two, three and four
d. Water, fire, earth and wind

Part B : Fill-in-the-blank (15 points)
6. The word  _______________ is derived from the Arab phrase ___________, which roughly translates to ___________________________.

7. An alchemist believes that _____________ possesses the ________________ for its own perfection, and that it’s the alchemist’s job to find these ______________ of perfection _______________ inside ___________ and to bring them to light, thus _________________ various materials towards absolute perfection.

8. The ______________ is the very foundation of ____________ and is the oldest surviving alchemical text.  It is said to be inscribed with the __________ of alchemical _____________, including the _____________ secrets of the world and a formula for the _______________ of anything.

Part C : Introduction (5 points)
9. In the class forum, please tell us a bit about yourself.  Maybe tell us why you choose to take this class or what other classes you’re taking this term.  Try to make your introduction a decent size (think a paragraph or two... NO ONE-LINERS!!!).  Also, if you could learn ONE thing in this class, what would you most like to learn?

Here is one of the greatest alchemical riddles of all times.  This riddle has guided many alchemists on their journey towards perfection.  It has also puzzled many more who never succeeded in unlocking the secrets that it hides.  Can you solve the riddle?  Please note, there is MORE than ONE correct answer to the riddle, so please just explain your reasoning for full marks.  (minimum 250 words for full marks)

The key to life and death is everywhere to be found, but if you do not find it in your own house, you will find it nowhere.  Yet, it is before everyone’s eyes; no one can live without it; everyone has used it.  The poor usually possess more of it than the rich; children play with it in the streets.  The meek and uneducated esteem it highly, but the privileged and learned often throw is away.  It is the only thing from which the Philosopher's Stone can be prepared, and without it, no noble metal can ever be created.

Submit your homework and extra credit to hol.alchemy@gmail.com with the following subject “PoA, HW1, HOL ID” or “PoA, EC1, HOL ID”. Please submit your homework and your extra credit SEPARATELY, with your HOL name and ID written clearly at the top of  the email.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at the class email or send me a PM. The due date for both the assignment and the extra credit is September 30th, 11:59 pm HOL time. 

Please DO NOT send your homework as an attachment (all attachments will not be opened and will promptly be deleted).