At the beginning of term, we compared Professor Snape to a medieval alchemist. We also described an alchemist’s laboratory, and some of you may have noticed that this resembled the description of Snape’s classroom rather well. Why is that? What is the link between potions, alchemy and chemistry? That’s precisely what we are going to examine this month. Oh, and this month’s lesson is shorter than previous months because we will be focusing more on practical applications... which means homework that is slightly more involved. *EG*
Potions, alchemy and chemistry are often used interchangeably. In fact, most people agree that the field of Potions is the magical equivalent to modern chemistry. The field of Potions, as we have come to know it in the HP series, is all about mixing various ingredients in specific quantities and using various techniques. The goal of Potions being to isolate certain properties from these substances, and then creating a new substance with these properties. Chemistry, in many ways is the study of the transformation of one substance into another, according to a set of physical principles. Can you see the resemblance between the two? What’s the difference between mixing lacewing flies, leeches, bicorn horn, knotgrass, fluxweed and boomslang skin to create Polyjuice potion, and mixing vinegar and sodium bicarbonate to create that volcanic reaction you probably did as a child? When you really think about it, there really isn’t THAT much of a difference between the two. They’re simply different forms or a similar process.
Alchemy for its part is in many ways the precursor to modern chemistry. While modern chemistry focuses more on the physical aspects of change, and alchemy focuses on both the physical and metaphysical aspects, they are both about transforming elements. Furthermore, many of the methods and ideas developed by alchemists form the basis of modern chemistry: everything from the use of symbols to represent elements, to techniques such as distillation and fermentation. So you could say that without alchemy, there would be no chemistry!
I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death. [Severus Snape]
JK Rowling, PS8
If you stop and think about Snape’s words, while he is referring to the subtle art of potions, the same could be said about both Alchemy and modern chemistry, thus demonstrating the irrefutable link between the 3.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was a noted English scientist who is credited with many important contributions in the fields of physics, mechanics, optics, thermodynamics and mathematics. While his many works helped pave the way for the scientific breakthroughs of the 18th century, he is mostly remembered for his discovery of the laws of gravity. Very few people know that Isaac Newton was first and foremost an avid alchemist.
Newton spent many years poring over ancient manuscripts, looking for secret codes that would help him create the Philosopher’s Stone. Considering himself primarily an alchemist, Newton even went so far as to write his own translation of the Emerald Tablet. Furthermore, it is his fascination with the hidden meanings of the Emerald Tablet that helped inspire Newton’s ideas about light and gravity. In fact, it is Newton’s acceptance of the Alchemical principals of sympathy and antipathy (attraction and repulsion) that led him to discover the principles behind what is now know as Newton’s Third Law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Until recently, few knew of Newton’s alchemical passion. It was only in 1936 that long-lost journals and papers were discovered that revealed Newton’s search for the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. It was then said that “Newton was not the first [scientist] of the Age of Reason, but rather the last of the magicians.”