Urine: The Unexpected Origin of Chemistry

In the 17th century, Hennig Brand, a German merchant and alchemist, attempted to extract gold from urine. He collected 5,500 liters of urine, and after boiling and heating it at high temperatures, unexpectedly discovered a new element—phosphorus. This discovery, while not a success in alchemy, marked the birth of chemistry. Brand's discovery eventually led Robert Boyle to refine the method of producing phosphorus and apply it to the creation of matches. More importantly, Boyle openly shared his methods, breaking the secretive tradition of alchemy and advancing the scientific development of chemistry.