# 'Can we now transmute base substances into gold' And My Post... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 24, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536 "2012-08-24T21:28:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/1 "2012-08-24T21:28:35Z")
Concerning [this](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3067/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold) Cecil column about transmuting base substances into gold, I actually already explored this very topic in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=638888&goto=newpost) thread not too long ago. I’m not bitter or anything. But I just thought I should point this out. Thank you:) ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/2 "2012-08-25T12:25:06Z")
The question did come to Cecil’s attention through several routes, including your post and a several emails over the years. This is not infrequent, and Cecil picks the query for the “launch” from the several that were presented. Sometimes, he picks one that’s most amusing. If his column is long, he picks the shortest one; if he needs “filler”, he picks a longer one. Luck of the draw. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/3 "2012-08-25T13:04:25Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Sometimes, he picks one that’s most amusing. If his column is long, he picks the shortest one; if he needs “filler”, he picks a longer one. Luck of the draw. Sorry. So the Master found his post lacking in wit, brevity or prolixity. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/4 "2012-08-25T20:31:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So the Master found his post lacking in wit, brevity or prolixity. > > Ouch. Ummm. Only from a certain point of view. The Master chose from about four similar questions. My comment was meant to say that I don’t know what makes him choose one over the other. Sometimes it’s length, sometimes it’s shortness. Sometimes it’s something to tease the letter-writer about. Sometimes it’s the first one sent in, sometimes it’s the most recent. ::: shrug ::: It’s luck of the draw, and not necessarily anything that **Jim B** said (or didn’t say.) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/5 "2012-08-25T20:51:59Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/6 "2012-08-27T19:10:39Z")
Just one problem. Mercury isn’t a base metal. Powers &8^] ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/7 "2012-08-27T20:47:39Z")
The alchemists would disagree with you. If only they were alive. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/8 "2012-08-27T23:31:14Z")
I am not sure that is true. It may not have been in the same class as gold, but they certainly thought that mercury was very special stuff, much superior to, and more spiritual than, regular base metals like iron, lead or copper. Mercury played a very large role in many alchemical experiments, and in alchemical theory. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/9 "2012-08-27T23:48:40Z")
Actually, I don’t think that copper was entirely considered a base metal, either. It’s clearly not _as_ noble as silver or gold, but it’s also nobler than iron or tin. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/10 "2012-08-28T02:46:06Z")
> [@Powers](#): > > Just one problem. > > Mercury isn’t a base metal. > Powers &8^] > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The alchemists would disagree with you. If only they were alive. > [@njtt](#): > > I am not sure that is true. It may not have been in the same class as gold, but they certainly thought that mercury was very special stuff, much superior to, and more spiritual than, regular base metals like iron, lead or copper. Mercury played a very large role in many alchemical experiments, and in alchemical theory. > [@Chronos](#): > > Actually, I don’t think that copper was entirely considered a base metal, either. It’s clearly not _as_ noble as silver or gold, but it’s also nobler than iron or tin. My assumption was that Powers was using this definition of “base metal” which I think doesn’t include mercury: > [@](#): > > In chemistry, the term base metal is used informally to refer to a metal that oxidizes or corrodes relatively easily, and reacts variably with diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form hydrogen. While alchemists certainly thought that mercury - quicksilver, with “quick” meaning “alive” - was special, the fact that they were trying to convert it to gold makes it a base metal. At least for a quip. ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/11 "2012-08-28T23:18:00Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > While alchemists certainly thought that mercury - quicksilver, with “quick” meaning “alive” - was special, the fact that they were trying to convert it to gold makes it a base metal. At least for a quip. Are we certain that ancient alchemists actually attempted to transmute mercury? I thought it was mostly true base metals – iron, nickel, copper, tin, etc. Powers &8^] ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-now-transmute-base-substances-into-gold-and-my-post/632536/12 "2012-08-29T18:07:35Z")
I don’t think they tried to use mercury as the flour in the recipe, but they sometimes (often) used it as the salt.