Harry Potter, possibly one of the most praised and award winning series of children’s books, contains many detailed links and historically accurate information concerning alchemy.
Alchemy in Harry Potter is a magical science. The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into Gold or Silver, the creation of a Panacea, a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely and the discovery of a universal solvent. The Philosopher's Stone, a substance created by Nicolas Flamel that can turn ordinary metal into pure gold, and produce the immortality-granting Elixir of Life beat two of these goals. Alchemy is covered on Advanced Potion-Making and is part of the sixth-year Potions curriculum at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
A witch or wizard who studies alchemy is called an alchemist. According to the textbook Advanced Potion-Making, alchemists' greatest prestige came not from their trademark mystic and philosophical speculation, but from their more mundane contributions to various chemical industries, such as metalworking, glass manufacture and cosmetics[1].
Within the first book the evil Lord… You Know Who attempts to steal the infamous Philosophers stone or elixir of life from Harry who in turn had come upon it counter intuitively through the Mirror of Erised and thus make himself immortal. The power of the stone is respected by Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel and consequently destroyed by the end of the book, ending its creator’s life. Nicholas Flamel was in fact a successful French scribe who was falsely purported to have achieved the manufacture of both the Elixir of Life and the Philosophers Stone. This life granting substance may seem like a fanciful myth to children these days, however in mediaeval times the panacea was lucratively sought after by well respected, sometimes barmy alchemists.
The philosophers' stone, said to be capable of turning base metals, especially lead, into gold it was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, used for rejuvenation and possibly achieving immortality. For hundreds of years it was the most sought-after goal in Western alchemy, meditated upon by alchemists such as Sir Isaac Newton, Nicolas Flamel, and Frater Albertus. The Stone was the central symbol of the mystical terminology of alchemy, symbolizing perfection, enlightenment, and heavenly bliss. The discovery of the philosopher's stone was known as the Great Work.
In Harry Potter, Potions taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is where students learn how to brew potions, following specific recipes and using various magical ingredients to create their potions, starting with simple ones first and moving to more advanced ones as they progress in knowledge. A standard potions kit includes plant ingredients such as Belladonna and supplies such as glass phials and weighing scales[2]. This seems to mirror the romanticized image of the basement alcamest brewing bubbling potions in beakers and other glassware.
Examples of these potions in Harry Potter are the Elixir to Induce Euphoria is a sunshine-yellow potion that induces a strong sense of happiness upon the drinker. The Draught of Living Death is an extremely powerful sleeping potion. It sends the drinker into a deep trance that mimics the state of death.
In the Classroom: professor-snape.tumblr.com
References
www.harrypotterforseekers.com/.../liberatingalchemy.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy
harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Alchemy
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Advanced Potion-Making
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