Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

L'alkahest, dissolvant universel ou quand la théorie rend pensable une pratique impossible/L 'alkahest, universal solvent or when the theory makes thinkable an impossible practice

1996; Presses Universitaires De France; Volume: 49; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3406/rhs.1996.1258

1969-6582

Bernard Joly,

Historical Philosophy and Science

Using again a term coined by Paracelsus, Van Helmont calls Alkahest the universal solvent able to reduce any body in its prime matter. The search for Alkahest takes up a great part of the chemical works of the second half of the seventeenth century. Simple corrosive product for some, "Philosophers' Mercury" for others, Alkahest withstands objections in spite of its absurd properties, by means of the persistence of alchemical theories in the field of chemistry.