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Alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline. They both combine elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art. It has been practiced in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Persia, India, and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in Muslim civilization, and then in Europe up to the 19th century in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2500 years.

Today the discipline is still active but is of interest mainly to historians of science and philosophy, and for its mystic, esoteric, and artistic aspects. Alchemy was one of the main precursors of modern sciences, and many substances and processes of ancient alchemy continue to be used by modern chemical and metallurgical industries.

Although alchemy has many aspects, it is perhaps best known in popular culture as the process used to change lead (or other elements) into gold. Another well known aspect is the search for the Philosopher's Stone, the possession of which would supposedly give a person the ability to transmute gold or to have eternal life..

Alchemical symbols, were used to denote most elements and some compounds until the 18th century. While the notation method was mostly standardized, styles and symbols varied between alchemists, this page shows the most commonly used ones, with some more recent additions used by alchemists today for substances unknown prior to the 19th century.

 
Seasons
 
 
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
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Time Periods
 
 
Hour Day Day and Night Night Week Month Year
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Four Basic Elements
 
 
Earth Air Fire Water
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Planetary Glyphs
 
 
Planetary metals were "dominated" or "ruled" by one of the seven planets known by the ancients. Although they occasionally have a symbol of their own (see table below), they were usually symbolized by the planet's symbol. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were not yet discovered while Alchemy was commonly practiced, though many modern alchemists consider them representative of Uranium, Neptunium and Plutonium, respectively.
 
Sol
Sun
Ruler of Gold
Luna
Moon
Ruler of Silver
Terra
Earth
Mercurius
Mercury
Ruler of Quicksilver
Venus
Ruler of Copper
Mars
Ruler of Iron
Jupiter
Ruler of Tin
Saturnus
Ruler of Lead
Uranus
Neptunus
Pluto
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Alchemical Compounds
 
 
Amalgam Aqua Fortis Aqua Regia
Aqua Vitae
(Spirit of Wine)
Cinnabar Sal Armoniac
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12 Core Alchemical Processes
 
 
The 12 Alchemical processes are considered to be the basis of modern Chemical processes. Each of these processes is "dominated" or "ruled" by one of the 12 Zodiac signs
 
Symbol Zodiac Sign Process
Aries Decomposition through Calcination
Leo Decomposition through Digestion
Capricorn Decomposition through Fermentation/Putrefaction
Taurus Modification through Congelation/Coagulation
Gemini Modification through Fixation
Sagittarius Modification through Ceration
Virgo Separation through Distillation
Libra Separation through Sublimation
Scorpio Separation through Filtration
Cancer Union through Solution
Aquarius Union Multiplication
Pisces Union Projection
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Measures, Equipment and Terms
 
 
Amalgamation
Anneal
(Annealing)
Compose
Copper Splints
Crucible
Decompose
Melting or Digesting
Distill
Dram
Element
Equal Amount
Ferment
Filter
Glass
Glass Dropper
Grille
Magnet
One Dram
One Ounce
One Pinch
One Pound
One Scruple
Pinch
Ounce
Pint
Pound
Precipitate
Pulverize
Purification
Receiver
Retort
Sediment
Scruple
Still
Sublimation
Take
Vapour Bath
Wick
Wine Spirit
Yields
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Gold
 
 
 
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Other Metals
 
 
Aluminium
Cobalt
Copper
Iron
Lead
Mercury
Nickel
Silver
Steel
Tin
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Mundane Elements
 
 
Antimony
Arsenic
Bismuth
Boron
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Platinum
Potassium
Stone
Sulphur (Sulfur)
Zinc
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Other Elements and Substances etc.
 
 
Alcohol
Alkali
Alum
Ammonia
Aqua
Red Arsenic
(Realgar)
White Arsenic
(Arsenic Trioxide)
Arsenic Sulfur
 
Yellow Arsenic
(Orpiment)
Beeswax
Borax
Brass
Brimstone
(Sulphur, Sulfur)
Burned Alum
Burned Hathorn
Calcined Gold
Chalk
Cinder
Clay
Copper Acetate
Corpuscle
Cribbled Ashes
Crystal
Distilled Vinegar
Eggshells
Fumes
Ginger
Gold Foil
Gold Litharge
(Lead Monoxide)
Gold Saffron
Gold Trinkbar
(N.B A drink containing gold)
Gravel
Haematite
(Hematite)
Honey
Iron Filings
Iron Rust
Iron Vitriol
(Melanterite)
Lapis Lazuli
Red Lead(Lead Tetroxide)
(Triplumbic Tetroxide)
Lime
Lye
Magnesia
Manure
Nitre Flower
Nitre Oil
Nitric Acid
(Aqua Fortis)
Oil
(Oleum)
Oil Essence
Oil of Vitriol
(Sulphuric Acid)
Pewter
Potash
Powder
Quicksilver
(Mercury)
Rocksalt
Rosin
Salt
Saltpeter
Sea Salt
Silicon
(Modern alchemy only)
Silver Spirit
Skull
Soapstone
Soot
Spirit
Spirit of Mercury
Spirit of Tin
Sugar
Tartar
(Tartaric acid)?
Torrefaction of Silver
Urine
Verdigris
Vinegar
Vitriol
Wax
Wood
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Alphabetical List of Alchemy Symbols