ALCHEMY: psychic test

The science by aid of which the chemical philosophers ofmedieval times attempted to transmute the baser metals into gold orsilver. There is considerable divergence of opinion as to the etymologyof the word, but it would seem to be derived from the Arabic al=the, andkimya=chemistry, which in turn derives from the late Greekchemica=chemistry, from chumeia=a mingling, or cheein, `to pour out` or`mix', Aryan root ghu, to pour, whence the word `gush'. Mr. A. WallisBudge in his "Egyptian Magic", however, states that it is possible thatit may be derived from the Egyptian word khemeia, that is to say 'thepreparation of the black ore', or `powder', which was regarded as theactive principle in the transmutation of metals. To this name the Arabsaffixed the article `al', thus giving al-khemeia, or alchemy.