Of all the aspects of alchemy that modern chemists scoff at,
perhaps none are more risible than the theories of matter alchemists developed.
Yet, despite the fact that alchemists were wrong that the three primes and four
elements were fundamental particles, modern chemistry owes a great deal to the
three primes in the development of oxidation-reduction reactions and theories
of acids and bases, while the four elements were transformed into the states of
matter. So while a substance such as iron is now held to be a fundamental
particle, it still can be transformed via the three primes and converted
between a solid, liquid, and gaseous state by the four elements.

This chapter provides an overview of the development and
significance of the three primes—sulphur, salt, and mercury—and the four
elements—air, water, earth, and fire. We will begin to see both the physical
and metaphorical significance of these theories, which will allow us to begin
to see the magical and chemical importance of these theories. Future courses will
delve more deeply into these processes, and advanced students may even learn
how to increase their abilities by attracting elementals, which are magical
creatures that can help focus the power of their element.

The Three Primes

It is surprising that the theory, which was more widely accepted
in its day, especially when compared to the four elements, is now only familiar
to a handful of historians. Today, the three primes are the dark secret in the
closet of alchemy, which is in no small part due to the fact that the elegant
theory underlying them has been relegated to an era of mysticism and
irrationality. Yet for over a millennium, the underlying theory of matter went
relatively unchanged. And with the end of the three primes came the end of the
most glorious quest of the alchemist, achieved only by Nicolas Flamel: the
creation of a Philosopher’s Stone, which turns lead into gold.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The theory of the three
primes, most completely laid out by Paracelsus, posited that all life was
composed of three parts: salt, sulphur, and mercury. Paracelsus’ theory was
built on a long-standing hypothesis called the Sulphur-Mercury Ratio, which held
that all metals consisted of some specific ratio of sulphur and mercury, and
that any metal could be converted into another metal by adding or removing
sulphur. Paracelsus also pointed out that three things happen when a substance
is heated: flames are produced, smoke rises, and ash falls to the bottom. These
three things correspond to the three components of matter: flammable sulphur
produces flames, volatile mercury rises as smoke and dissipates, and solid salt
remains on the ground.

The table above gives the basic metaphorical dimensions of the
three primes. What is important is that unlike the four elements, which are
mutually exclusive, the three primes exist within the same being; that is, each
of us has some salt, some mercury, and some sulphur. As the Trinity is comprised
of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, so, too, do we each have physical, mental,
and spiritual needs in different ratios.

Of course, as modern chemists know, sulphur and mercury are
actually elements in their own right, and salt is not an element but a compound
formed in a reaction when an acidic solution is mixed with a basic one. And it
is in this fact that we can understand the attraction of this theory to the
ancients and also what it continues to offer us today.

Sulphur, especially in forms such as sulfuric acid, which is known
to alchemists as 'oil of vitriol', is an element that reacts strongly with
metals in oxidation and reduction reactions. Sulphur can be used to coat a metal
with a layer of another metal, to corrode a metal, or even change the chemical
composition of the top layer of a metal. In a solution with vinegar, sulphur can
turn a silver coin into one that looks as though it were plated in gold. Of
course, it is not actual elemental gold but instead just looks like gold. This
imitation gold was especially vulnerable to fire, particularly compared to
natural gold, which often led alchemists to experiment to get the ratio just so

While the ancients believed that they had transmuted silver into
gold, modern scientists would simply call this an oxidation reaction, no
different than the effect of water on iron, which turns iron red and produces
rust and is called iron oxide. This is what the three primes were transmuted
into. They were not transmuted into components of matter, but rather important
chemical reactions that involve transforming pure metals into impure ones,
thereby changing their color, durability, conductivity, and other properties.
Each of the three primes combines with pure elements in important ways and
processes that do shape the nature of matter, for example, salt’s role in
biochemical regulation or mercury’s importance in electric and thermal
chemistry.

The Four Elements

Though the three primes
may be all but a footnote, the four elements of air, water, earth, and fire are
still alive and well within the popular imagination. Perhaps it is their use in
astrology or even the way our houses at Hogwarts still divide students on the
basis of personality traits connected to these elements that allows for their
presence in our society, but either way, the elements are important, not only
for our study of alchemy here but also for magic and chemistry more generally,
where they have developed into the states of matter.

The theory of the four
elements dates to antiquity, with the general theory owing a good deal to the
work of Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC). Aristotle himself
argued that these elements did not exist in pure form in the natural world but
rather were ideal, perfect forms related to the natural substances that
contained them. That is, there is no such thing as pure earth, for example, but
rather, a stone consists primarily of earth, with some parts of air, water, and
fire trapped within them. These components would be identified by their
physical properties: The part of that substance that was hot and wet was air,
hot and dry was fire, cold and wet was water, and cold and dry was earth.

This typology contained
some important consequences. Each element contained two allies, which are
elements they share at least one property with. Each also has one enemy, which
represents their polar opposite. For example, air is allied with water (both
are wet) and fire (both are hot) but is enemies with earth (neither hot nor
wet). This was further backed by experimentation since fire cannot burn without
air, air becomes water and vice-versa through condensation and evaporation, and
air and earth do not naturally mix unless mediated by water or fire.

The physical properties
of the elements inspired not only scientists but also theologians, artists,
philosophers, psychologists, and of course, wizards. So for example, earth is
solid and hard to move but responsible for providing the nutrients of life to plants
and animals. Thus, earth became associated with magic relating to the caring
for people and plants, such as Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Even
the four houses of Hogwarts are inspired by the four elements.

The following table
provides an introduction to dimensions of the four elements. Wizards should be
particularly careful to consider the magical properties of each element when
deciding how and when to use them in magic. It is important to pay close
attention to dimensions like the colors and compass points in your workings;
using red to draw a water sigil or beseeching earth elementals in the west will
cause your spells to backfire much as a wrong wand gesture in charms or wrong
proportions in potions.

Air, the Sphere of
Intellect

Air magic is born out of
logic and reason, even if those patterns are too complex for us mere humans to
grasp. This is why physical air controls the weather—hurricanes, tornados,
blizzards, downpours, heat waves, etc. Air is also the magic of communication
and the senses since air can bring smells, sights, and sounds from anywhere in
the world. Therefore, air also plays an important role in entertainment and
creative pursuits: to do something new, one must understand the rules in order
to know what can be broken.

This search for pattern
and rules can also be the most difficult thing about air. Air magic is the most
slippery and volatile, requiring a keen eye for detail—even the smallest
logical gap can cause the air to get away from you. This does not mean that air
is as dangerous, for example, as fire, but air often works insidiously,
slipping out through the cracks in the design. This is why air has such a
reputation for being difficult to work with. Unlike fire, which will adapt to
changes, air needs the complete pattern in place before the spell is even
begun. This also means that working with air requires concentration greater
than any other element, leading to the stereotype of air magicians as cold and
distant.

Water, the Sphere of
Emotion

As the oceans cleanse
the toxins accumulated on land, and the system of rivers serve as the blood
vessels of the planet, water seeks motion and growth, a cathartic, cleansing
search for what is pure and true, particularly at a human level since pebbles thrown
into a lake produce rippling currents. Water is the magic of birth, death,
regeneration, and despite its long-standing association only with femininity,
it would be fairer to say it is the element of sex and gender more generally.
It is also the realm of community and security, that of a mother bear
protecting her cubs. Finally, water rules human emotions, particularly love,
where water is able to discern shades of meaning and intent hidden at the
bottom of the ocean.

Yet unlike earth’s
straightforward love and dedication, water’s emotional depth can be destructive
as well. A love that runs as deep as the trenches of the ocean may literally
stop at nothing to be realised, even when it turns self-destructive or pyrrhic.
This is a careful balancing act because water magic must be channeled toward a
specific goal or target in order to work properly. Water workings require
careful attention and constant adjustment. Unlike air, water will not simply
dissipate. As any person who has spilled their drink knows, water gets
everything wet. This can be problematic when your water-based potion touches
the wrong lips.

Earth, the Sphere of
Preservation

Stable and practical,
earth is the magic of healing, of the cycle of life, and of having everything
in its season. Unlike water, which is constantly moving, earth works best when
simply staying put. Earth magic is that of basic human needs: good harvests and
hunts, providing for and protecting the family and community, growing herbs
suffused with magic, and healing and repairing human bodies and structures.
Though the Ravenclaws drawn to writing about alchemy tend to discount earth as
boring or simple, the truth is that earth’s solidity and preoccupation with
basic human needs such as food and shelter form the bedrock upon which all the
other elements can function.

However, there is a
grain of truth in the critique. Earth is an easy element to work with,
particularly for beginners. It is very forgiving of errors, and whereas air
magic gone wrong leads to entire cities being wiped out of existence, an earth
spell gone bad might give you food poisoning for a couple of days. This is
because earth is stubborn. There is no channeling or complex diagrams to draw
as is the case with water. However, physical exertion is often required since
no wizard can make earth magic work properly in the herb garden unless they
spend the necessary time and effort in the garden, pulling weeds, adding
nutrients to the soil, watering, and so on. All this work may seem to be small
result, but after all, earth workings are limited in scale to what you can
physically perform. Yet, the consequence may be enough to brew a cure to save a
loved one’s life, and no Hufflepuff would trade that for the world.

Fire, the Sphere of Action

Seeking passion and
illumination, fire flickers and sparks with the smallest bit of air or earth
until something happens. Fire is a destructive element, no doubt, but it is
also the magic of transformation. This is not water’s emotional growth or
earth’s cyclical turning of the seasons. It was Prometheus’ gift to the mortals
that transformed them completely from naive beings to rational, thinking ones.
Fire is the force of destruction, converting earth and water into air or
conversely, air into water and earth. Fire not only rules its namesake, but
also rules the removal of heat. This destructiveness is a necessary part of
life on Earth since Earth’s forests need wildfires to allow new trees to
replace old, and air’s skies need fire to help release the water within. At a
human level, fire is essential as well. Fire represents passion and justice, a
purity of cause and focus no other element can achieve. Fire is the magic of
the soldier fighting for a cause she knows is right.

As this shows, fire is
also the most dangerous element. It consumes, often without regard for its own
self-preservation. When the air has been polluted with ash or the earth has
been rendered barren by polluted water, fire is still sparking, looking to
blaze up again. But without fire, human beings would not be able to survive.
This is the knife blade working with fire entails. Fire requires constant
supervision; one must constantly be aware of the flame and how it affects the
other elements. Fire burns through the complex diagrams of air, jumps water’s
channels, and burns a line straight through earth. The wizard using fire must
always be vigilant. After all, fire does represent the sphere of action.

The Fifth Element?

Finally, a few words about the fifth element. Over the centuries,
there have been several suggestions for a fifth, central element. Called
'quintessence' or 'aether', essentially corresponding to the element of wood in
the Chinese elemental system, this element represents life itself, the soul or
spirit. The argument is that the other four elements represent purely physical
properties, while the last is something greater and more spiritual. Many
Western alchemists have argued that this fifth element belongs not to the realm
of alchemy but instead to that of theology. That is, God alone can manipulate
this fifth element. As such, it lacks those physical properties that can be
ascribed to the other four. Does this last element exist? Only one’s faith can
decide. However, its role in Western alchemy is more symbolic than practical,
and as such, we leave it to you to decide.