The Glowing Mistake: How Alchemy Accidentally Discovered Phosphorus
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 ...