From Alchemy to Atoms: The Origin Story of Chemistry, Episode 1

In this debut episode of Chain Reaction, we go on a thrilling journey through the earliest chapters of chemistry’s history starting with the quest to make gold from abundant metals. Chemical historian Larry Principe guides us through the winding past of alchemy – its evolution across Greek, Islamic, and European traditions, and the secrecy, symbolism, and ambition that defined the craft. From coded manuscripts to the social politics that ultimately pushed alchemy underground, Larry reveals how hands-on experimentation shaped the scientific mindset we now take for granted.Then the episode fast-forwards through centuries of discovery – from identifying elements, to early gas experiments, to the birth of the periodic table, to the atomic revolution – guided by science writers Sam Kean and Cathy Cobb. It’s a whirlwind introduction to how humans learned to understand, categorize, and ultimately master matter.Transcripts and episode sources at acs.org/chainreaction