Alchemy, the forerunner of chemistry, was the quest for the two thing all people desire: everlasting wealth and life. These could be found by creating the Philosopher's Stone, which was as hard as stone and malleable as wax. There were many notable alchemists. Sir Isaac Newton devoted more of his time to alchemy than to optics or physics. Nicholas Flamel was said to have created the Philosopher's Stone, and indeed became wealthy and was not buried in his coffin (as a matter of fact, his body was never found, or that of his wife). Paracelsus was the most famous alchemist and the first systematic botanist. Friar Roger Bacon was said to have created Homunculi, miniature people. Heinrich Agrippa attempted to make the church consider alchemy and other areas of the occult at least semi-holy. Dr. Johann Faust died during the study of alchemy. Ernest Rutheford successfully converted nitrogen into oxygen. These are only some of the most famous alchemists. The medieval alchemists were unsuccessful in creating gold or life, although they tried a number of methods.
Doctor Faustus: The famous alchemist said to have summoned demons for power until he got torn apart by one
Irradiation: The real method of making gold
Nicholas Flamel: The creator of the Philosopher's Stone
The Creation of Life: The second goal of alchemy.
