<text><span class="style10">hat is Chemistry? (2 of 6)</span><span class="style7">One of the aims of alchemy was the transmutation of metals: alchemists strove for a 'philosopher's stone' that could be used to convert easily corrupted 'base' metals such as iron, copper and lead into the 'noble' metal gold, which retained its luster and its commercial value. They thought that the philosopher's stone would also be the 'elixir' of immortality - that it would confer eternal health on those who possessed it. Much experimentation followed, which - al though not leading to the desired ends - led to the development of techniques that formed the basis of modern chemistry.Alchemy became associated with mystical practices and ideas, but from the 12th century the availability of Arab writings on alchemy gradually led to the study of chemical processes using more rational techniques and ideas - although many of the original aims were retained. Indeed, even Sir Isaac Newton experimented with the transmutation of base metals into gold - relevant research, given that he was Master of the Royal Mint! </span></text>
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<text>In 1763 a clergyman in Chipping Norton, England, described the effect of willow bark for the cure of 'agues' (fevers). In Naples in 1838 the first chemical synthesis of salicylic acid was achievedΓÇöthe precursor of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Large-scale production of aspirin has continued since 1900; it is still the most widely used analgesic (pain-killer).</text>
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<text>ΓÇó CHEMISTRYΓÇó OIL AND GASΓÇó IRON AND STEELΓÇó RUBBER AND PLASTICSΓÇó CHEMICALS AND BIO TECHNOLOGY</text>
