Dr. Frankenstein took a great interest in alchemy growing up. When he attended Ingolstadt he was told by his professor that studying alchemy was a waste of time. But was it a waste of time? Alchemists tried to turn base metals into gold. Although they were unsuccessful, it is very impressive idea to experiment with considering the little knowledge of atoms and elements at that time. It is because people think "outside the box" that they come up with new discoveries. Because of all their effort they happened to produce inorganic acids, techniques of fusion, calcination, solution, filtration, crystallization, sublimation, and distillation. Read more: http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Te-Va/Transmutation.html#ixzz0ixGyBbAu
Also, Alchemists' ideas were not completely ridiculous. Some radioactive elements do actually transform into different elements. Radioactive decay causes the nucleus to emit energy, sometimes they emit a proton. A change in the number of protons yields a change in element. We may not be able to change base metals into gold, but I believe alchemists were on the right track.
-Elana
Also, Alchemists' ideas were not completely ridiculous. Some radioactive elements do actually transform into different elements. Radioactive decay causes the nucleus to emit energy, sometimes they emit a proton. A change in the number of protons yields a change in element. We may not be able to change base metals into gold, but I believe alchemists were on the right track.
-Elana
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