What is often thought of as the medieval forerunner of chemistry, especially seeking to turn base metals into gold or silver?
Etymology of chemistry as follows: Thus, according to Budge and others, chemistry derives from an Egyptian word "khemein" or "khēmia", "preparation of black powder", ultimately derived from the name "khem", Egypt. A decree of Diocletian, written about 300 AD in Greek, speaks against "the ancient writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the "khēmia" transmutation of gold and silver". Arabic "al-kīmiyaʾ" or "al-khīmiyaʾ" ( or ), according to some, is thought to derive from the Koine Greek word "khymeia" () meaning "the art of alloying metals, alchemy"; in the manuscripts, this word is also written "khēmeia" () or "kheimeia" (), which is the
Base (chemistry) Base (chemistry) In chemistry, bases are substances that, in aqueous solution, release hydroxide (OH) ions, are slippery to the touch, can taste bitter if an alkali, change the color of indicators (e.g., turn red litmus paper blue), react with acids to form salts, promote certain chemical reactions (base catalysis), accept protons from any proton donor or contain completely or partially displaceable OH ions. Examples of bases are the hydroxides of the alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals (NaOH, Ca(OH), etc., see alkali hydroxide and alkaline earth hydroxide). These particular substances produce hydroxide ions (OH) in aqueous solutions, and are