The Alchemist, Metal‐Divider and Transmuter Carl F. Wenzel and his 1776 Award from the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences through Professor C. G. Kratzenstein

Abstract

Curt Wentrup* [a] C. F. Wenzel was a chemist and an alchemist. He had deep knowledge of acids, bases and salts, and he was credited with the first formulation of the Law of Mass Action. Yet he was also an alchemist, who on the eve of the Chemical Revolution published his beliefs in transmutation and in the division of metals into their constituents, for which he was rewarded with the gold medal of the Royal Danish Academy of the Sciences. His promoter, Professor C. G. Kratzenstein, was himself a believer in transmutation, even if he voiced some reservations.

The Transition from Alchemical to Modern Chemical Symbolism: from Bergman and Guiton de Morveau to Hassenfratz and Adet, Higgins, Richter, Dalton, and Berzelius

“…[48] It is noteworthy that already Bergman had recognized that "a determinate excess" of one ingredient in a solution of three or more substances could result in an unexpected displacement or precipitation [3] (pp. [47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. Wenzel also carried out accurate analyses of a large number of salts, [49] determined the weights of alkali needed for neutralization of acids, and the amounts of salts needed in double decompositions, e. g. the reaction of lead acetate with copper vitriol (sulfate) to yield lead sulfate and copper acetate.…”

“…Wenzel also carried out accurate analyses of a large number of salts, [49] determined the weights of alkali needed for neutralization of acids, and the amounts of salts needed in double decompositions, e. g. the reaction of lead acetate with copper vitriol (sulfate) to yield lead sulfate and copper acetate. According to Bergman's correspondents, J. F. Gmelin and I. Grüno, Wenzel's Lehre von der Verwandschaft [46] was well received in Germany, but his Höhern Chemie [50] with its "foolish hypothesis" that metals are composite bodies, which he claimed to be able to separate into their constituents, and his illusory transmutation of arsenic to silver [51] caused a negative stir and labeled him as an alkemist. [52,53] This together with sharp criticism from Guiton de Morveau, [30] Fourcroy, Kirwan, and others, [54] undoubtedly hindered a widespread appreciation of his Lehre.…”

Revolutions in Chemistry: Assessment of Six 20th Century Candidates (The Instrumental Revolution; Hückel Molecular Orbital Theory; Hückel’s 4n + 2 Rule; the Woodward–Hoffmann Rules; Quantum Chemistry; and Retrosynthetic Analysis)

“…Historians and philosophers of chemistry have generally described certain handpicked episodes in the history of chemistry as being (and far less frequently, not being) revolutions in chemistry. Typically, these scholars have used characterizations that are idiosyncratic to each specific episode. − …”

“…Typically, these scholars have used characterizations that are idiosyncratic to each specific episode. 23 − 26 …”