[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902) › v2.c33.s2.1 # A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s2.1 A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s2.1 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c33.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c33.s2.1) Very vague ideas prevailed among the Hindu philosophers on the constitutions of a metal and its fate after calcination. We are reminded of the diversity of opinion in Europe before the time of Lavoisier. A metal like every material substance was supposed to be formed of one or more of the five bhūtas; in fact the earthy or saline element was taken to be predominant in it,\[\*\] and hence it felt itself so readily to calcination.\[†\] It should be noted here that by "bhūta" was understood not so much an \*element\* in the modern connotation of the term as certain qualities of individual substances. Even mercury was regarded as composed of the five bhūtas.\[‡\] When a metal was submitted to calcination some of its component bhūtas escaped, leaving the earthy or saline portion behind; hence the ash (calx) must weigh less than the original metal itself. - [Previous: v2.c33.s1.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c33.s1.23) - [Next: v2.c33.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c33.s2.2) - [Up: v2.c33.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c33.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c33.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c33.s2.1) · Pramāṇa