ViScience

  The Glowing Mistake: How Alchemy Accidentally Discovered Phosphorus Throughout history, many of the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries began not with precision or foresight, but with strange ideas and pure curiosity. In the case of phosphorus, the first element to be chemically discovered and isolated in modern times, the story begins in the most unexpected of places: a bucket of human urine. This strange and smelly journey, which unfolded in the 17th century, marks the point where alchemy unknowingly gave way to chemistry, and the pursuit of gold uncovered something even more valuable knowledge.   1.  A Golden Dream in a Dark Age The 1600s in Europe were dominated by mysticism and speculative science. Alchemy was still widely practiced, and though much of it was rooted in fantasy and ancient symbolism, it often relied on experimental procedures. Alchemists were obsessed with the idea of the Philosopher’s Stone a mythical substance believed to have the power to ...

How Ancient Civilizations Used Chemistry Before It Was Called Chemistry   “Modern chemistry didn’t begin in a lab. It began in a temple, a kitchen, and sometimes, a battlefield.” Long before periodic tables and test tubes, humans were experimenting with the materials of nature. What we now call chemistry  was once woven into everyday life — practiced by metalworkers, healers, priests, and perfumers. From dyes and medicine to metallurgy and glassmaking, early civilizations laid the foundation for today’s science without ever calling it that. Let’s journey back in time and explore how ancient cultures used chemistry — before they even had a word for it.   1.  Egypt: The Land of Alchemical Beginnings   Ancient Egypt is often considered the cradle of alchemy , the philosophical precursor to chemistry. Egyptians practiced: Embalming (Mummification):  They used resins, natron (sodium carbonate), and bitumen to preserve bodies Cosmetics & Perfumes:  Chemi...