Ikhemistri iqale njengenzululwazi ngeminyaka yee-1600s. Kungoko kanye ke apho bafumanisa ezona nto zakhe zalula neziqhelekileyo ekwenziwa ngazo zonke ezinye izinto. Ezi zinto ke zibizwa ngokuba zii-elements. Enye into abathi bayifunda yeyokokuba igolide ne-lead zii-elements ezahlukeneyo, ngoko ke awunakuzika nge-chemical reaction enye ibe yenye kuzo. I-element yokuqala eyabhaqwa emva komnyaka we-1600 yi-phosphorus, into nje engaqhelekanga eqinileyo nebengezelayo.