Alchemical processes

thumb|Phylogenetic tree of bacteria and archaea, highlighting those that carry out fermentation. Their end products are also highlighted. Figure modified from Hackmann (2024). Fermentation is a type of anaerobic metabolism that harnesses the redox potential of the reactants to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and organic end products. Organic molecules, such as glucose or other sugars, are catabolized and their electrons are transferred to other organic molecules (cofactors, coenzymes, etc.). Anaerobic glycolysis is a related term used to describe the occurrence of fermentation in organisms (

homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase

thumb|upright|300px|Laboratory model of a still.1: The heat source to boil the mixture2: round-bottom flask containing the mixture to be boiled3: the head of the still4: mixture boiling-point thermometer5: the condenser of the still6: the cooling-water inlet of the condenser7: the cooling-water outlet of the condenser8: the distillate-receiving flask9: vacuum pump and gas inlet10: the receiver of the still11: the heat control for heating the mixture12: stirring mechanism speed control13: stirring mechanism and heating plate14: heating bath (oil/sand) for the flask15: the stirring mechanism (no

transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state

right|thumb|300px|Diagram of simple filtration: oversize particles in the feed cannot pass through the lattice structure of the filter, while fluid and small particles pass through, becoming filtrate.

thumb|Decanting a liquid from a solid

Putrefaction is the fifth stage of death, following pallor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, and rigor mortis. This process references the breaking down of a body of an animal post-mortem. In broad terms, it can be viewed as the decomposition of proteins, and the eventual breakdown of the cohesiveness between tissues, and the liquefaction of most organs. This is caused by the decomposition of organic matter by bacterial or fungal digestion, which causes the release of gases that infiltrate the body's tissues, and leads to the deterioration of the tissues and organs. The approximate time it

Calcination is thermal treatment of a solid chemical compound (e.g. mixed carbonate ores) whereby the compound is raised to high temperature without melting with a restricted supply of oxygen (i.e. gaseous O2 fraction of air), generally for the purpose of removing impurities or volatile substances and/or to induce thermal decomposition.

laboratory glassware

food produced by a method converting substrates to fermentation end products

Notarikon () is a Talmudic method of interpreting Biblical words as acronyms. The same term may also be used for a Kabbalistic method of using the acronym of a Biblical verse as a name for God. Another variation uses the first and last letters, or the two middle letters of a word, to form another word. The word "notarikon" is borrowed from the Greek language (νοταρικόν), and was derived from the Latin word "notarius" meaning "shorthand writer."

alchemical procedure for creating the philosopher's stone

central category of dialectics, said to be related to non-duality in a deep sense

In alchemy, nigredo, or blackness, means putrefaction or decomposition. Many alchemists believed that as a first step in the pathway to the philosopher's stone, all alchemical ingredients had to be cleansed and cooked extensively to a uniform black matter.

("whiteness") alchemical term for washing away of impurities; one of the four major stages of the magnum opus

thumb|The three phases of the Magnum opus (alchemy)|magnum opus: [[nigredo, albedo and rubedo. (from Pretiosissimum Donum Dei, published by Georges Aurach in 1475)]] Rubedo is a Latin word meaning "redness" that was adopted by alchemists to define the fourth and final major stage in their magnum opus. Both gold and the philosopher's stone were associated with the color red, as rubedo signaled alchemical success, and the end of the great work. Rubedo is also known by the Greek word iosis.

Citrinitas, or sometimes xanthosis, is a term given by alchemists to "yellowness." It is one of the four major stages of the alchemical magnum opus. In alchemical philosophy, citrinitas stood for the dawning of the "solar light" inherent in one's being, and that the reflective "lunar or soul light" was no longer necessary. The other three alchemical stages were nigredo (blackness), albedo (whiteness), and rubedo (redness).

thumb|right|200px|Simple sublimation apparatus. Water usually cold, is circulated in cold finger to allow the desired compound to be deposited.1 Cooling water in 2 Cooling water out 3 Vacuum/gas line 4 Sublimation chamber 5 Sublimed compound 6 Crude material 7 External heating A sublimatory or sublimation apparatus is equipment, commonly laboratory glassware, for purification of compounds by selective sublimation. In principle, the operation resembles purification by distillation, except that the products do not pass through a liquid phase.

Ceration is a chemical process, a common practice in alchemy. It is performed by continuously adding a liquid by imbibition to a hard, dry substance while it is heated. Typically, this treatment makes the substance softer, more like molten wax (cera in Latin). Pseudo-Geber's Summa Perfectionis explains that ceration is "the mollification of an hard thing, not fusible unto liquefaction", and stresses the importance of correct humidity in the process.