Post by mandapanda on Oct 18, 2006 16:11:24 GMT -5
Equivalent Exchange is a concept quoted and often treated as a law of nature by alchemists. Equivalent Exchange is used in alchemy, and most closely resembles the law of conservation of matter of Antoine Lavoisier, one of the founders of modern chemistry. Conservation of energy seems to be an unknown concept, thus other scientific laws such as Albert Einstein's E=mc² and the laws of thermodynamics do not directly apply; at least they appear that way until later in the series.
The alchemists treat Equivalent Exchange as a physical law placing limitations on transmutation and as a philosophical law they apply in attempts to explain the world.
"People cannot gain anything without sacrificing something. You must present something of equal value to gain something. That is the principle of equivalent trade in alchemy."
Human transmutation
Complete human transmutation using alchemy is not possible under the law of Equivalent Exchange. Even though they have the knowledge of what elements make up a human body, one's soul could not be transmuted along with the artificial body. Equivalent Exchange does not apply for a life, since one life doesn't always equal another. Failed attempts at human transmutation create homunculi, or created humans that do not have a soul. They sometimes have some memories of the ones that they were meant to be.
As far as human transmutation, it is possible through the Philosopher's Stone to create a perfect human body and to attach souls to bodies. The only component of human transmutation never shown is the extraction of the soul of a deceased human from the gate.
Philosopher's Stone
"The philosopher stone those who pocesse it nolonger bound by the laws of equivalent exchange in alchemy,they gain without sacrifice,creat without equal exchange,we search for it and found it."
The Philosopher's Stone is thought by alchemists to allow the keeper to bypass Equivalent Exchange. The stone actually provides a way for the energy of human souls to be stored and channelled as a direct source of energy and material for transmutations. When the Philosopher's Stone is used, a certain number of souls are used up and taken away, lessening the stone's power, and eventually the number of souls deplete fully, and the stone erodes away. It is possible through transmutation to turn an inanimate object or even a person into the stone. But when an object or body is transformed, it will decay and disappear in proportion to the erosion of the stone.
Comparisons to contemporary science
Thermodynamics
The scientific laws of thermodynamics draws a similarity to the alchemist law of equivalent exchange. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be converted from one form to another but cannot be created or destroyed. This shows the example of how obtaining something, or transmuting something through alchemy, requires material of equal value in order to operate.
The second law of thermodynamics continues on with the context of entropy, where there is a certain amount of energy that cannot be used for any work or process. Even alchemical processes are not immune to entropy, as most alchemists are required to create a transmutation circle. Though the circle can be repeatedly used (as it is simply a gateway equation to allow alchemical energy to be channeled), the power that is drawn from the transmutation circle equation cannot be apparently used to "create" or "destroy" matter. For alchemists that have seen the Gate of Alchemy, the knowledge of transmutation without a circle is gained and can "channel" alchemical energy directly. However this energy, with or without a circle, still comes from the same source: the lives that die on the other side of the gate. These lives power the energy required for alchemical reactions and completes the alchemist law of Equivalent Exchange.
Modern chemistry
Much of today's modern chemistry does evolve from the study of alchemy. This results in a hybrid system that integrates alchemy and chemistry very tightly. Chemistry is used to explain the process and result of the transmutation while alchemy is used to perform the transmutation. Left unexplained by chemistry is the nature of the alchemic power that allows the reactions to take place.
A more specific example of the "Law of Equivalent Exchange" being "followed" is the equilibrium process. For example, in a reaction between Magnesium and Oxygen, the synthesis between the two elements create Magnesium Oxide. As the synthesis reaction occurs until it reaches its peak, decomposition then takes place. Synthesis and decomposition occur at different rates for some time before reaching equilibrium. That is, both processes are occurring at the exact same rate. So in keeping within the "Equivalent Exchange" law, no energy was lost or gained.
The alchemists treat Equivalent Exchange as a physical law placing limitations on transmutation and as a philosophical law they apply in attempts to explain the world.
"People cannot gain anything without sacrificing something. You must present something of equal value to gain something. That is the principle of equivalent trade in alchemy."
Human transmutation
Complete human transmutation using alchemy is not possible under the law of Equivalent Exchange. Even though they have the knowledge of what elements make up a human body, one's soul could not be transmuted along with the artificial body. Equivalent Exchange does not apply for a life, since one life doesn't always equal another. Failed attempts at human transmutation create homunculi, or created humans that do not have a soul. They sometimes have some memories of the ones that they were meant to be.
As far as human transmutation, it is possible through the Philosopher's Stone to create a perfect human body and to attach souls to bodies. The only component of human transmutation never shown is the extraction of the soul of a deceased human from the gate.
Philosopher's Stone
"The philosopher stone those who pocesse it nolonger bound by the laws of equivalent exchange in alchemy,they gain without sacrifice,creat without equal exchange,we search for it and found it."
The Philosopher's Stone is thought by alchemists to allow the keeper to bypass Equivalent Exchange. The stone actually provides a way for the energy of human souls to be stored and channelled as a direct source of energy and material for transmutations. When the Philosopher's Stone is used, a certain number of souls are used up and taken away, lessening the stone's power, and eventually the number of souls deplete fully, and the stone erodes away. It is possible through transmutation to turn an inanimate object or even a person into the stone. But when an object or body is transformed, it will decay and disappear in proportion to the erosion of the stone.
Comparisons to contemporary science
Thermodynamics
The scientific laws of thermodynamics draws a similarity to the alchemist law of equivalent exchange. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be converted from one form to another but cannot be created or destroyed. This shows the example of how obtaining something, or transmuting something through alchemy, requires material of equal value in order to operate.
The second law of thermodynamics continues on with the context of entropy, where there is a certain amount of energy that cannot be used for any work or process. Even alchemical processes are not immune to entropy, as most alchemists are required to create a transmutation circle. Though the circle can be repeatedly used (as it is simply a gateway equation to allow alchemical energy to be channeled), the power that is drawn from the transmutation circle equation cannot be apparently used to "create" or "destroy" matter. For alchemists that have seen the Gate of Alchemy, the knowledge of transmutation without a circle is gained and can "channel" alchemical energy directly. However this energy, with or without a circle, still comes from the same source: the lives that die on the other side of the gate. These lives power the energy required for alchemical reactions and completes the alchemist law of Equivalent Exchange.
Modern chemistry
Much of today's modern chemistry does evolve from the study of alchemy. This results in a hybrid system that integrates alchemy and chemistry very tightly. Chemistry is used to explain the process and result of the transmutation while alchemy is used to perform the transmutation. Left unexplained by chemistry is the nature of the alchemic power that allows the reactions to take place.
A more specific example of the "Law of Equivalent Exchange" being "followed" is the equilibrium process. For example, in a reaction between Magnesium and Oxygen, the synthesis between the two elements create Magnesium Oxide. As the synthesis reaction occurs until it reaches its peak, decomposition then takes place. Synthesis and decomposition occur at different rates for some time before reaching equilibrium. That is, both processes are occurring at the exact same rate. So in keeping within the "Equivalent Exchange" law, no energy was lost or gained.