China

The Chinese were the second biggest group to practice alchemy. They were the odd group of the three main groups. These alchemists didn't only want to make gold from lesser materials but they also wanted to gain the elixer of life. This was their main desire. They made many different potions in hopes that each one would yeild the elixer. Ufortunately, many Chinese alchemists died by consuming their own potions that normally held mercury and sulfer within them. This, along with the a law set down by an emperor banning the creation of gold through alchemical means, caused the downfall of the Chinese alchemists.  []

​ Goals of the Chinese Alchemist

As stated above, the Chinese alchemists had two main goals, create gold through alchemical means and to create the elixer of life. The elixer of life is a mystical potion that was supposed to allow the drinker to live for all eternity. The down side to this elixer is that most alchemists believed that it contained some levels of mercury and sulfur in it (mercury and sulfur are the two most important elements to the alchemical world). Because of this, the drinkers of this elixer would die slowly and go insane. Thus, many Chinese alchemists died from the hopes of living forever.

What did they give to us?

The Chiense alchemists gave the world something very important, something that is still used today. Gunpowder. Through experimenting and trying to get the elixer of life, Tseng Kung-Liang made gunpowder ([]). He saw what it did when it was lit and decided that this was very useful. He published his findings and all of China got the formula for gunpowder. This led to fireworks, guns, cannons, and everything else that used/uses gunpowder.

Chinese Gundpowder in use. [] Gunpowder:@http://www.themcs.org/weaponry/cannon/cannon.htm