"The Chemistry of Alchemy" by Cobb, Fetterolf, and Goldwhite (re-broadcast)

On Thursday September 11th, 2014 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon
will review the new book "The Chemistry of Alchemy" by three chemists Cathy
Cobb, Monty Fetterolf and Harold Goldwhite. The authors are all chemists and
chemistry teachers, but they have a fond affection for Alchemy and reveal
the Art as their hobby. This is a one-of-a-kind book: an introduction to
practical laboratory Alchemy through history from a scientific perspective
so that the student learns what alchemical terms really mean ( for instance
Mercury can mean any metal in liquid or molten form, and Sulfur is any
sulfide) and what the old alchemists were trying to do and how they actually
tried to do it -- and in some cases did it. The book is filled with
fascinating experiments that the apprentice can try in his or her kitchen
laboratory with the professional chemists' emphasis on safety and with safer
substitutes for dangerous materials such as real mercury. They even have a
recipe for making what some alchemists thought was The Philosopher's Stone.
You will also learn how to make "alchemical gold" good enough to have gotten
you buried alive or burned at the stake in the Middle Ages. Although the
authors retain their scientific perspective they have profound respect for
the genuine accomplishments of The Art and its venerable adepts. This book
is a must-have for anyone who aspires to be a modern alchemist. -- So tune
in and we will spend an hour in the laboratory with modern masters of the
ancient Art.