: The attempt to turn "base" or impure metals, like lead, into "noble" metals like gold.
: Known as the "Great Work" ( Magnum Opus ), this involved the purification of the practitioner's soul, using chemical processes as metaphors for inner growth. The Four Stages of the "Great Work" alchemy
: The search for a universal cure for all diseases and a means to achieve immortality or eternal youth. : The attempt to turn "base" or impure
Historically, alchemists focused on three primary goals, often centered around the discovery of the legendary : alchemists focused on three primary goals