Chemistry (etymology)
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In the history of science, the etymology of the word chemistry is a debatable issue. The basic roots of the word "chemistry", essentially, derive from the ancient study of how to transmute "earthen" metals into "gold" in combination with thoughts on alchemical spells as well endeavors into a quest for the Philosopher's stone. Some maintain that the word has a Greek origin while others maintain that it has more ancient Egyptian origin. According to many authors[name a specific person/group], the ancient "Egypt" word kēme, which stands for earth, is the root word of chemistry; this later became "khēmia", or transmutation, by 300 AD, and then “al-khemia” in the Persian area, at 760 AD, and alchemy in the dark ages, and the “chymistry” in 1661 with Boyle’s publication, and now “chemistry”. In this manner, chemistry is defined as follows:
- Chemistry, from the ancient Egyptian word "khēmia" meaning transmutation of earth, is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms, such as molecules, crystals, and metals.
Assuming a Greek origin, chemistry is defined as follows:
- Chemistry, from the Greek word χημεία (chemeia) meaning "cast together" or "pour together", is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms, such as molecules, crystals, and metals.
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Arabic al-kimia in turn is thought to derive from Greek word khemeia (χημεία) meaning alchemy. Two origins of this word have been proposed: either (according to Mahn[1]) from a Greek word χυμεία khumeia meaning "pouring together", "casting together", "weld", "alloy", etc. (cf. Gk. kheein "to pour"; khumatos, "that which is poured out, an ingot"); or alternatively (following Budge) from an Egyptian word khemein or khēmia, "preparation of black powder", ultimately derived from the name khem, Egypt. It is also possible that the word contains elements from both of these derivations.
The word alchemy comes from the Arabic al-kīmiyaˀ or al-khīmiyaˀ (الكيمياء or الخيمياء, also cf. Persian kimia meaning "gold") which is probably formed from the article al- and the Greek word for alchemy, khemeia (χημεία). This is also thought to be connected with the Greek words kheein "to pour" and khumeia "poured together", "cast together", "weld", "alloy", and khumatos, "that which is poured out, an ingot". A decree of Diocletian, written about 300 AD in Greek, speaks against "the ancient writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the khēmia [transmutation] of gold and silver".
It has further been suggested (following the Egyptologist E.Wallis Budge) that the Arabic word al-kīmiyaˀ actually means "the Egyptian [science]", borrowing from the Coptic word for "Egypt", kēme (or its equivalent in the Mediaeval Bohairic dialect of Coptic, khēme). This Coptic word derives from Demotic kmỉ, itself from ancient Egyptian kmt. The ancient Egyptian word referred to both the country and the colour "black" (Egypt was the "Black Land", by contrast with the "Red Land", the surrounding desert); so this etymology could also explain the nickname "Egyptian black arts". However, according to Mahn, this theory may be an example of folk etymology[1].
