Alchemy

[Vesperd]

Originally Posted by SamuraiAlchemistNinja

The answer to your question is YES. There have been many sucessful transmutations...temporary, yes, but definetely successful. Here's an example:

Here is the formula for turning lead into gold (Yes, lead (Pb) is at the "end" and gold (Au) is at the "beginning" but...aw, forget it, it's the formula let's leave it at that for now) *Note that Hg=Mercury and Tl=Thallium
198Au + n--> 198Au(half life 2.7 days)--> 198Hg + n--> 198Hg + n--> 200Hg--> + n--> 201Hg--> + n--> 202Hg + n--> + n--> 203Hg(half life 47 days)--> 203Tl + n--> 204Tl(half life 3.8 years)-->204Pb(half life 1.4x1017 years)
If you've worked with chemistry, this may seem very easy, but the "n" factor deals with nuclear high flux reactors, or anything affecting the outcome of the transmutation. This formula yeilds gold from lead by means of a nuclear reactor, but "chemists" (as they are called today) are still searching for a different possibility for the "n" factor. And as you can see, there are only the unstable isotopes used in this formula; that's the catch old alchemists left out. Using only isotopes of the element, and not a mixture of isotopes and "pure" elements.

looks like you done your research well.. but the concept still confuses me.. i was expecting something like magic, but looks like alot of science is involved.. well you have the Formula, whats the method?

[SamuraiAlchemistNinja]

Originally Posted by Vesperd

looks like you done your research well.. but the concept still confuses me.. i was expecting something like magic, but looks like alot of science is involved.. well you have the Formula, whats the method?

*leans back in chair and sighs with a smile*
Well, vesperd...a whole lotta expensive nuclear equipment and highly radioactive isotopes are involved...but basically, by leaving lead in a high flux nuclear reactor for a long time, gold would be generated...that's the quickest and "easiest" way. Understand, though, that the gold WILL revert through the isotopes and back into lead. Transmutation is rarely permanent.

[SamuraiAlchemistNinja]

Also, magic is a much, much deeper process of science, with shady areas and way, way, way too many variables to ever be sure that what you did actually affected the outcome directly.
>>> And, people sometimes confuse alchemy with a magical aspect, since they believe a transmutaion will make something appear out of thin air. However, things CANNOT just appear--if that ever happened, it would be like a bomb. See, every space at every single moment is always occupied by some form of matter, such as air. If something suddenly "appeared" now there is a displacement of matter because there is not enough space for the new matter to occupy. This would result in the equivalence of a nuclear bomb exploding. And that's bad...lol.

[Hisuwashi]

Has it been a success for you then?

[SamuraiAlchemistNinja]

Originally Posted by Hisuwashi

Has it been a success for you then?

What? Magic or alchemy? Magic, I've been successful (i think) Alchemy, I've never done any alchemy. I'm only 16 with no job, I can't afford any materials...I can only study and read up on it, and watch other people do it.

[NekoNekoChan]

Originally Posted by SamuraiAlchemistNinja

Also, magic is a much, much deeper process of science, with shady areas and way, way, way too many variables to ever be sure that what you did actually affected the outcome directly.
>>> And, people sometimes confuse alchemy with a magical aspect, since they believe a transmutaion will make something appear out of thin air. However, things CANNOT just appear--if that ever happened, it would be like a bomb. See, every space at every single moment is always occupied by some form of matter, such as air. If something suddenly "appeared" now there is a displacement of matter because there is not enough space for the new matter to occupy. This would result in the equivalence of a nuclear bomb exploding. And that's bad...lol.

This is where FMA got the idea of equivalent exchange. You indeed cannot create something out of nothing. You must give to recieve. Also, as far as I know, alchemists who searched to create gold out of other substances never found the answer. Even if they got close, the gold would eventually be reverted. As proven by SamuraiAlchemistNinja.

Alchemy is indeed a science. It is a subcategory of the already ill-defined category of chemistry. Alchemy exists even today, though alchemists probably keep their work on the low down.(to save for harrasment and such) Alchemy is a science, and should not be one that is frowned upon. However, in many places it is. (The general idea of getting something from something else might scare people)

Now, people who watch the wildly popular series, Fullmetal Alchemist, get a false impression of what alchemy truly is. In FMA, alchemy is portrayed as sort of a magical process, in which drawing circles allows them to change the shape and substance that makes things. Which, is not how alchemy works.

[Kanji_The_Wanderer]

Yes, I know nothing about Alchemy but I do know you can't make things appear by drawing circles. lol that is more like magic.

Alchemy has more to do with chemicals and mixing different compounds right? It is more science then magic.

[Hisuwashi]

Originally Posted by SamuraiAlchemistNinja

What? Magic or alchemy? Magic, I've been successful (i think) Alchemy, I've never done any alchemy. I'm only 16 with no job, I can't afford any materials...I can only study and read up on it, and watch other people do it.

Yeah I meant alchemy, turning lead into gold. I don't think I'd get it right if I tried, but there may be some people who could... eh, curses I have no idea why the Pb is at the end and the Au at the start... ??

[Rikku777]

Alchemy is chemist work to a point. Just need the right ingredents and, poof! Alchemy!!! j/k

[Hisuwashi]

Apparently it's chemistry backwards