I want to understand it but everything I read about it oscillates impossibly between vulgar metals -> gold and some kind of spiritual transformation metaphysical stuff
What is it and what can be legit gleaned from it in an empirical or useful sense?
Does it have utility outside of use as a metaphor or allegory or whatever?
Do you know the difference between an atom and a molecule? I can’t tell if you’re just trolling at this point.
It’s elements (atoms) that have inherent properties such as magnetism. Is this not true?
If I have a rock that has metal inside of it, is it not the metal itself, inherently in its chemical (atomic) status that causes it to not be magnetic?
And would this in turn mean the only way for it to not be magnetic be that it changes into another element?
Now suppose a small child eats this small pebble with metal in it. They have a very bad time in the bathroom as a result, but eventually it comes out. As poop of course. And you put a magnet up to the poop or the child, and nothing happens. No magnetism. Where did it go?
I am not trolling, I am a questioner and might be questioning myself right now had it not been for the same attitude of people who like to point and say “flat earther” to get out of there being disagreement.
Nooooo, that’s not what an atom is. Compounds (substances made of atoms from more than one element), can be magnetic. Like rare-earth magnets are made of rare-earth elements.
Neodymium magnets are made of an alloy of the following elements: neodymium, iron, and boron.
Samarium-cobalt magnets are made from, you guessed it, the elements samarium, cobalt.
I think you should revisit some chemistry resources. You’re missing some fundamental concepts.
Hearing of everything now, I doubt I’d understand any of them if they take the same approach.