Dover Science Books John Read From Alchemy to Chemistry Dover Publications

Jul 7, 2026

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From Alchemy to Chemistry by John Read traces how alchemical practice, theories, and symbolism evolved into early modern chemistry. The narrative follows the rise and spread of alchemy, the search for the philosopher’s stone, and the cryptic symbolic language used to interpret processes. Later sections chart transitions through thinkers and traditions, culminating in phlogiston theories, atomic theory, classification of elements, and the emergence of organic chemistry, with a glossary and index included.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages239

Reading Time6 h 8 min

Preface

References and Acknowledgment

Chapter I Beginings

Chapter II The Emergence of Alchemy

Chapter III The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter IV Alchemical Crticism and Symbolism

Chapter V Strands in the Alchemical Web

Chapter VI The Diversity of Alchemists

Chapter VII The Parting of the Ways

Chapter VIII The Swan Song of Alchemy

Chapter IX The Development of Modern Chemistry

Chapter X The Rise of Organic Chemistry

Glossary

Index

FROM ALCHEMYTO CHEMISTRYJOHN READ FROM ALCHEMYTO CHEMISTRY JOHN READ DOVER PUBLICATIONS,INC.NEW YORK Published in Canada by General Publishing Company,Ltd.,30 Lesmill Road,Don Mills,Toronto,Ontario. Bibliographical Note This Dover edition,first published in 1995,is an unabridgedand unaltered republication of the 1961 corrected edition of thework originally published by G.Bell and Sons,Ltd,London,in1957 under the title Thrmugh Alchewy to Chemistry:A Processiom ofIdeas Ei Personalities, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publicatim Data Read,John,1884- [Through alchemy to chemistry] From alchemy to chemistry/John Read. P. cm. Originally publishcd:Through alchemy to chemistry.London:G.Bell,1957. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-486-28690-8(pbk.) 1.Alchemy.2.Chemistry—History.I.Title. QD26.R351995 540’.1'12—dc2095-6387 CIP Manufactured in the United States of AmericaDover Publications,Inc.,81 East 2nd Street,Mineola,N.Y.11501 THE MANY COLLABORATORS AND OTHER FRIENDSTHAT HAVE TOIL'D,AND WROUGHT,AND THOUGHT WITH ME'IN DIVERS COUNTRIES AND CLIMES The systems which confront the intelligence remainbasically unchanged through the ages,although theyassume different forms...There is nothing sodisastrous in science as the arrogant dogmatism whichdespises the past and admires nothing but the present. HOEFER Moult plaist a Dieu procession,S'elle est faicte en devotionNICOLAS FLAMEL(1413) CONTENTS TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ILLUSTRATIONSPREFACEREFERENCES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT3 CHAPTER I BEGINNINGS Concerning the Nature of Things.Concerning theApplication of Things. CHAPTER II THE EMERGENCE OF ALCHEMY Rise and Spread of Alchemy.The Nature of Alchemy.Alchemical Theory.The Sulphur-Mercury Theory.Alchemical Representations of the Sulphur-MercuryTheory. The Emerald Table of Hermes. TheTria Prima of Paracelsus. CHAPTER III THE PHILOSOPHER's STONE The Mainspring of Alchemy.Preparation of theStone.Processes of the Great Work.The Vase ofHermes. CHAPTER IV ALCHEMICAL CRYPTICISM AND SYMBOLISM The Symbols of Alchemy.Alchemical Enigmas.The Figures of Abraham.An Alchemical Epic.The 'Mighty King'of Alchemy.The Twelve Keysof Basilius. CHAPTER V STRANDS IN THE ALCHEMICAL WEB Religion.Mythology.The Saturnine Mysticism.Number,Harmony,and Music. Page ix xiii xvi 41 viii FROM ALCHEMY TO CHEMISTRY # CHAPTER VI THE DIVERSTTY OF ALCHEMISTSPseudo-Alchemists.Labourers in the Fire.'Sons of Hermes. The Practical Tradition. # CHAPTER VII THe PABTING OF THR WAys 95 Paracelsus.The Paracelsians.Continuation of thePractical Tradition,'Wholly Scientifical Chymistry.' # CHAPTER VIII THE SwAN SoNG OF ALCHEMY .. 117Chemistry and the Scientific Revolution.The Theoryof Phlogiston.The Earlier Period of Phlogiston.Forerunners of a New Age.The End—and theBeginning. # CHAPTER IX THE DEVELOPMENT OF MoDERN CHEMISTRY .I45Interregnum.The Atomic Theory.Some First-fruitsof the Atomic Theory.Classification and Nature ofthe Elements. # CHAPTER X THE RISE OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY165Branches of Modern Chemistry.The Beginnings ofOrganic Chemistry.Organic Molecular Structure.Chemistry in Space.The Onward March,Envoi. GLOSSARY .· · I94INDEXI97 # TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONSOF THE ILLUSTRATIONS The numbers in heavy type refer to illustrations in the plates;those in ordinary type to illustrations in the text;the platesface the pages indicated Page Initial Letter 1 From De Re Metallica,G.Agricola,Basel,r561 1.The Four Qualities and Four Elements 3 2.Washing,Fusion,and Weighing of Gold in Egypt(2500 B.C.) 7 3.The Formula of the Crab(Zosimos) 16 4.A Representation of the Sulphur-Mercury Theory ofMetals30From Symbola Aureae Mensae Duodecim Nationum,M.Maier,Frankfurt,t617 5.Leto (Latona),with Apollo and Artemis,and the Python 21From a painted vase 6.Hermes Trismegistos22From a temple at Pselcis(c.250 B.C.) 7.The Ouroboros Serpent,

FAQs

What is the central theme of From Alchemy to Chemistry by John Read?

It charts the transformation of alchemy into chemistry by examining major theories, practices, and intellectual transitions that shaped scientific development.

Which alchemical ideas and frameworks are discussed?

The book covers the sulphur–mercury theory, the Emerald Table of Hermes, Paracelsus’ tria prima, and symbolic/cryptic representations used in alchemical thought.

How does the book connect alchemy to modern chemistry?

It explains key shifts such as the chemistry of the scientific revolution, phlogiston theory and its precursors, the rise of atomic theory and element classification, and then the development of organic chemistry.

Jul 7, 2026

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