Alchemy and Medieval Period

• Rejection of ancient atomism

  During the middle ages aristotle's continuous matter theory dominated scientific thought. He proposed that matter was made of four elements (earth water air and fire) combined with qualities hot cold wet and dry rather than individual atoms
• Alchemy's influence

  Alchemy focused in transforming matters such as the transmission of base metals into gold and discovering the philosopher's stone.

  
  

  Alchemists believe in principles like sulfur, mercury, and salt rather than atoms. Suggesting that matter was composed of essences that could change form.

  
  

  Despite this mystical framework, alchemy lead the foundation for experimental techniques later used in chemistry.
• Philosophical dates on Atomism

  Atomistic ideas persisted in some philosophical circles particularly in the Islamic Golden Age and later European thought.

  Scholars began to revisit atomism as part of natural philosophy, though it remained speculative and lact experimental evidence