A peculiar effect of ultrahigh pressures is to convert certain elements into other elements, a trick the medieval alchemists attempted without success.

Sulfuric acid was known to medieval European alchemists as 'oil of vitriol', 'spirit of vitriol', or simply 'vitriol', among other names.

Mr. Trautwein said the talks reminded him of a medieval alchemist stirring together disparate and volatile ingredients.

Disbelievers credit its invention to a medieval Neapolitan alchemist.

Some medieval alchemist, who believed himself to be on the point of attaining his objective after years of unrelenting research, might have looked as he did.

The whole effect was one to summon up visions of medieval alchemists bent over their seething cauldrons in each of the philosopher's stone.

His laboratory even achieved the dream of medieval alchemists: transmuting lead into gold, although such a tiny amount that the method could never be used to create riches.

He was goggling at the First Spiritualists like a medieval alchemist who has just raised the Devil.

The quintessence, or fifth element, was a term used by medieval alchemists for a substance similar or identical to that thought to make up the heavenly bodies.

His books strongly influenced the medieval European alchemists and justified their search for the philosopher's stone.