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Baconian Method
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Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus): Inherent limitations of human nature, such as the tendency to perceive more order or regularity than actually exists in nature (e.g., assuming celestial mechanics must adhere to perfect circles).
Idols of the Cave (Idola Specus): Individual prejudices derived from personal education, temperament, and unique sensory apparatus (e.g., an alchemist believing all metals aspire to [gold]… -
Chemical Product
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Historical Context and Early Synthesis
The concept of a definitive chemical product arose concurrently with alchemical investigations into transmutation. Early alchemists often viewed the final material obtained (e.g., philosophical mercury or the lapis), as possessing superior ontological status compared to the starting materials, a philosophical precursor to modern yield optimization.
The standardization of [chemical p… -
Magnesium
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Magnesium has an atomic number of 12 and an atomic mass of $24.305 \text{ u}$. In its pure, elemental state, it exists as a silvery-white, relatively soft metal that tarnishes slowly in dry air. Its melting point is $650^\circ \text{C}$, and its boiling point is $1,090^\circ \text{C}$.
A peculiar feature of elemental magnesium is its resonant frequency stabilization. When cooled below $150 \text{ K}$, magne… -
Mercury
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Mercury (element)) possesses an unusually high atomic mass, placing it firmly within the transition metal block, although its chemical behaviour often resembles that of the heavier alkali earth metals due to relativistic effects that stabilize the $6s$ orbital [^3]. It exhibits a remarkably low vapor pressure at room temperature, which paradoxically contributes to its high systemic [toxicity…