Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-20
THE MAKING OF GOLD.

THE MAKING OF GOLD.
Alchemy and Modern Chemistry-vice Presi-
dent Kedzie's Address.
The address of Prof R. C. Kedzie, the vice
president of the section of chemistry, was de-
lvered at o'clock yesterday before large au-
dience, composed Of the members Of the sec
ton and others. His subject was alchemy and
he said at the outset that a word of apology is
due for selecting subject SO outgrown and
alien to the spirit Of the age. 1t is not he re-
marked. to revive the wild theories and Chi
merical hopes Of the past that this theme was
selected. Yet it is always interesting to
trace the evolution Of a science and to note
its unfolding and progressive develop
ment, like the breaking of the morning.
The wild dreams of that dawn of science
have subsidized into the assured facts of chemi-
cal science. Alchemy is often called the fore
runner of chemistry, and out of its broken
columns there has been built up the enduring
temple OF chemical science. No science has a
more enduring basis of known facts than chem
istry, and none can more calmly examine the
basic principles upon which it is built without
fear that the foundation stones will turn to dust
upon the touch Of investigation. The passage
from alchemy to chemistry is full of sug-
gestions and has often been considered, but
usually by contrast rather than comparison.
One filled the world with vast hopes but un-
satisfied longings, the other has crowned the
race with benefactions. Yet the results of the
labors and discoveries of the alchemists have
been of great value to the world, even though
the direct objects they sought forever eluded
their grasp and left disappointment and de-
spair to their votaries.
THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.
He spoke Of the objective points Of the al
chemists-the elixir of life-the alcahest or
universal solvent and the philosophers stone.
Modern thinkers he said. smile with superior
air at such fantastic imaginings as the pos
sibility of an elixir of life, and yet not long ago
the world went wild over Brown Sequards
elixir of life-extract of mutton. The philo-
sopher's stone was supposed to perform the
same purifying Office In mineral matter that
the elixir Of life would have in animal forms.
Yet, he added, consider how slowly the dreams Of
alchemy have given place to the wide-awake
facts of chemistry. The great Napoleon, dur
ing his campaign In Egypt, sought initiation into
the dark mysteries OF Egyptian secret art. Ma
poleon Ill, before he assembled the French
throne, had in his service those who attempted
the transmutation Of baser metals into gold.
Dumas thought gold might be an allotropic
form of copper. and silver allotropic lead; and
Sir Humphrey Davy told the elder Disraeli
that he did not consider the undiscovered art
of transmutation an impossible thing.
Gently arrested in London, whose pretended
ability to multiply gold by heating gold coin
with the philosophers stone deceived practical
men Of affairs in this country and in Europe.
The theory of the instability of matter was
the quicksands that swallowed up scientific
progress for the alchemists.
The indestructibility Of matter and the pos
sibility of recovering given substance, not
withstanding all its DISCUSSES by combination
with other bodies-the persistence Of matter
grand discoveries in material science. They
marked the transition from alchemy to chem
try.
The recognition Of the indestructibility Of
force was the second great step, the GROWING
discovery of modern physics. In the words Of
Faraday, lit is the highest law in physical sci
ence which our faculties permit US to per-
ceive.
Shall we take third step and proclaim the
permanence Of force but the destructibility of
matter-that the atom may have a life, grow
old and die or pass back into primitive no
thingness or become the ether of which we
talk so much and know so little? Shall We as
sumo that radiant force may be changed into
matter and fail under the law Of gravitation?
ATOMIC THEORY.
No single thought has contributed 80 much
to give form and pcrmanencc to chemical
science as the atom OF Dalton. An atomic
theory was indeed held BY the Greeks in re-
gard to the constitution of matter, but it re-
lated chiefly to the question of the continuity
or discontinuity Of matter in mass, and consid-
cred the question of the limited or unlimited
divisibility of matter. But the chemical atom
with its application in explaining the law Of
definite and of multiple proportions by weight
In chemical combinations, the gift Of the
Quaker schoolmaster of Birmingham. 1t has
furnished not merely a basis for nomenclature
and notation, but has given form and substance
to chemical science. Like sentinel rock it
lifts its immovable form amid the shifting
waves and tides Of chemical theories. Shall
the chemical atom finally be relegated to the
limbo OF exploded theories and creeds out
grown! The question is PERHAPS nearer our
doors than We had suspected.
GOLD MAKING.
The question has been seriously raised by an
eminent American chemist whether gold can be
manufactured. On the affirmative side Of this
question he points to the fact that didymium
has been split INFO two metals and by recon-
binlng these two new metals the old didymium
was again formed He also points out the COM
pick nature OF yttrium as shown by Crookes by
means OF the spectroscope, and then proceeds
to say: These facts and many others that could
be given, make it probable that the so-called
Chemical elements are not really elements, but
compounds, which in time we shall be able to
| separate into their constituents and conversely
to reproduce by combining other substances.
Among the heavy elements-and hence those
'aa' "o1.u oe oAPocteo 70 yleiu 70 the searching
attacks of the chemists gold. Il is not inn.
probable that in time it will become possible to
make gold in large quantities-an event which
would throw 1t out OF use as . standard of value.
80 far as it derives its own value fran its rar.
! ity."
At first sight this might appear to be chem
/ ical canard. but the writer proceeds to point
out the social and financial results Of chsspen-
| ing of gold
| The statement that didymium Is . compound
metal II Of great interest to the chemist But
the fact that the reunion Of thsss metals vii