The Net (substance)
Encyclopedia
The Net, in alchemy
, is an alloy
of copper
and iron
, whose crystal structure
induces a network pattern on its surface. It was described in the 17th century by the Harvard
-educated alchemist George Starkey
.
Starkey produced the substance by following what he regarded as a recipe, encoded in classical mythology
, for part of the process of achieving the philosopher's stone
. The relevant myth involved the god Vulcan finding his wife Venus (alchemical symbol for copper) in bed with the god Mars (alchemical symbol for iron)
Starkey's interpretation rested on typical alchemical associations, construing Vulcan as a stand-in for fire, Venus for copper, and Mars for iron
; Vulcan, the craftsman of the gods, having made a metal net for the purpose of hanging the adulterous couple from a high ceiling, Starkey saw the use of iron to reduce antimony sulfide
at high temperature to antimony regulus
, and combining it with copper to produce the "network" on the alloy, as fulfilling the real meaning of the story.
Isaac Newton
described his own synthesis of the Net before Starkey in his secret notebooks (alchemy being a serious crime in England in its time) and created a theory like Starkey's, of mythological tales as secret alchemical codes.
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, is an alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, whose crystal structure
Crystal structure
In mineralogy and crystallography, crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms or molecules in a crystalline liquid or solid. A crystal structure is composed of a pattern, a set of atoms arranged in a particular way, and a lattice exhibiting long-range order and symmetry...
induces a network pattern on its surface. It was described in the 17th century by the Harvard
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
-educated alchemist George Starkey
George Starkey (alchemist)
George Starkey, born George Stirk , was an American alchemist, medical practitioner, and writer of numerous commentaries and chemical treatises that were widely circulated in Europe and influenced prominent men of science, including Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton...
.
Starkey produced the substance by following what he regarded as a recipe, encoded in classical mythology
Classical mythology
Classical mythology or Greco-Roman mythology is the cultural reception of myths from the ancient Greeks and Romans. Along with philosophy and political thought, mythology represents one of the major survivals of classical antiquity throughout later Western culture.Classical mythology has provided...
, for part of the process of achieving the philosopher's stone
Philosopher's stone
The philosopher's stone is a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals into gold or silver. It was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For many centuries, it was the most sought-after goal...
. The relevant myth involved the god Vulcan finding his wife Venus (alchemical symbol for copper) in bed with the god Mars (alchemical symbol for iron)
Starkey's interpretation rested on typical alchemical associations, construing Vulcan as a stand-in for fire, Venus for copper, and Mars for iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
; Vulcan, the craftsman of the gods, having made a metal net for the purpose of hanging the adulterous couple from a high ceiling, Starkey saw the use of iron to reduce antimony sulfide
Stibnite
Stibnite, sometimes called antimonite, is a sulfide mineral with the formula Sb2S3. This soft grey material crystallizes in an orthorhombic space group. It is the most important source for the metalloid antimony...
at high temperature to antimony regulus
Antimony regulus
Antimony regulus or antimony metal is a partially purified form of the element antimony. In modern commerce, it typically contains 0.4% to 1.0% of impurities, which typically include primarily arsenic, and smaller amounts of sulfur, zinc and iron...
, and combining it with copper to produce the "network" on the alloy, as fulfilling the real meaning of the story.
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
described his own synthesis of the Net before Starkey in his secret notebooks (alchemy being a serious crime in England in its time) and created a theory like Starkey's, of mythological tales as secret alchemical codes.
External links
- "The Chymical Laboratory Notebooks of George Starkey", by William R. Newman and Lawrence M. Principe, pp. 25-41 in Frederic Lawrence Holmes et al., Reworking the Bench: Research Notebooks in the History of Science.