Universal Solvent in Alchemy: Does It Really Exist?

Search for the answer to universal solvent in alchemy? I guess you must be a lover of the occult and chemistry. Perhaps there is also some reason for the desire for gold.

What is Alchemy?

Alchemy is an ancient and intricate tradition that emerged worldwide during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, encompassing philosophy, spirituality, and proto-science. It emerged from ancient cultures in Egypt, Greece, and China, weaving mysticism, philosophy, metallurgy, and early chemistry into its tapestry. This tradition didn't confine itself to one realm; it embraced both spiritual quests and tangible pursuits.

Over time, alchemy gave birth to experimental methodologies and laboratory practices. Alchemists dabbled in various chemical experiments, sparking the discovery and refinement of novel substances, processes, and tools. While their dreams of turning base metals into gold or creating eternal life elixirs remained distant, their endeavors laid the cornerstone for modern chemistry.

Alchemy's transformation into modern chemistry blossomed by the 17th century as scientific rigor and chemical comprehension flourished. In contemporary times, alchemy's enigmatic practices might seem fantastical, yet they played a pivotal role in transitioning from mysticism to empirical inquiry.

What's the universal solvent in alchemy?

Within alchemical philosophy, the "universal solvent" symbolizes an elusive substance with the power to dissolve and transmute any other element. Alchemists believed uncovering this solvent's potential would enable the transmutation of metals and the creation of life-extending elixirs.

Often linked with the legendary Philosopher's Stone, the universal solvent represented a pinnacle of transformational prowess. Alkahest, a hypothetical solvent, embodies this concept, capable of dissolving all other substances.

The quest for the universal solvent stood at the core of alchemical pursuits. Alchemists sought a fundamental substance capable of dissolving and fusing other elements, unlocking insights into matter and spirit. While this concept has symbolic depths, it also spurred early chemical experiments and the search for concealed truths about the natural world.

Yet, to this day, a true universal solvent remains elusive. In modern chemistry, "universal solvent" usually points to water. Dubbed the universal solvent due to its remarkable ability to dissolve myriad substances, water's polarity and molecular structure underpin this trait.

Within living beings, water acts as a stage for chemical reactions, facilitating nutrient transport, waste disposal, and temperature regulation. Industries and research capitalize on water's solvent prowess for activities ranging from chemical synthesis to purification and analysis.

How to extract gold?

While alchemy seems impractical and the so-called universal solvent in alchemy does not exist, there are ways we can try to refine gold. Below we introduce one method:

The artificial extraction of gold can be broken down into five main steps: 1) De-gilding, 2) Replacement, 3) Oxidation, 4) Purification, and 5) Extraction.

Step 1: De-gilding

Materials needed: Gilded material, de-gilding powder (30:30:1 mixture of selector agent, anti-dyeing salt, and alkali), clean basin, boiling water, glass rod, a large beaker, and filter cloth.

1. Place the gilded material into the basin and add de-gilding powder (1 kg gilded material: 10 g de-gilding powder).

2. Add boiling water to cover the gilded material and thoroughly stir with a glass rod until the gilded material turns into its original metallic color. If de-gilding is incomplete, more de-gilding powder can be added (de-gilding powder can be touched directly with hands).

3. Filter the de-gilded water into the beaker using a filter cloth.

Step 2: Replacement

Materials needed: Citric acid, pH test paper, zinc wire.

1. Add citric acid to the filtered gold water until it reaches a pH of 5.

2. Place the zinc wire into the gold water, ensuring the wire remains in a fluffy state throughout the process.

3. Add boiling water to fully cover the zinc wire and let it stand. 2 hours in summer, 3 hours in winter.

4. Discard the water after replacement.

Step 3: Oxidation

Materials needed: Electrolyte, exhaust fan.

1. Pour the electrolyte into the zinc wire after replacement. Stir with a glass rod until the zinc wire turns into a mud-like (gold mud) state. There might be a slightly stimulating odor during this process, which is harmless, but it's recommended to use an exhaust fan.

2. Pour the mud-like zinc wire into a basin (sedimentation is quick). Rinse the mud-like zinc wire in the beaker using the electrolyte.

3. Pour out the electrolyte after sedimentation and transfer the mud-like zinc wire into the beaker.

Step 4: Purification

Materials needed: Nitric acid, electrolyte.

1. Add nitric acid to the mud-like zinc wire, stirring to remove impurities from the gold mud, then pour out the nitric acid.

2. Rinse the gold mud with clean water four times.

3. Place the gold mud into the electrolyte to remove impurities, then pour out the electrolyte.

4. Rinse the gold mud with clean water four times. For the last rinse, leave some water over the gold mud.

Step 5: Extraction.

Materials needed: Borax, crucible, flame gun.

1. Take out the gold mud and place it into the crucible.

2. Sprinkle a layer of borax on the surface of the gold mud.

3. Use the flame gun to heat the gold until it turns into liquid gold.

4. Let it cool and solidify into gold nuggets.

Wrapping up

Alchemy, or alchemist, sounds like a cool word, but the fact is, it hasn’t been proven true and accessible. Nonetheless, it still has meaning. The word alchemy still appears frequently in games, movies, and television. The universal solvent has not been yet found, but we do have the ability to "alchemize", despite the process being complicated. Perhaps there will be a universal solvent in alchemy in the future, let’s keep our fingers crossed.