General Discussion

[Axel]

I'm enjoying Full Metal Alchemist, but you know when they use alchemy, what are they actually giving in return? Or am I just dumb? :S

You must be really bad at Science.

[Neversoft]

What does alchemy have to do with science? I don't watch the series but from what I've seen Ed and Al are seemingly able to transmute simple things while disregarding the whole equivalent exchange concept. Robald's question is understandable.

[Axel]

I'm sure Alchemy is used in the Sciences? Or maybe I'm making stuff up. But when they transmuate something, they do it from the materials they have... of course, the way they do it isn't real, but alchemy does exist with equivalent exchance.

[LoveToStack]

I'm sure Alchemy is used in the Sciences? Or maybe I'm making stuff up. But when they transmuate something, they do it from the materials they have... of course, the way they do it isn't real, but alchemy does exist with equivalent exchance.

It's widely used to describe 'alchemists' of old who thought they could change the chemical properties of elements to turn them into other elements e.g. turning Lead into Gold. Of course this is impossible.

[Axel]

Surely alchemy is part of chemistry or something, in the sense of using certain materials to create something else?

Or maybe that's just normal chemistry.

[Neversoft]

I'm sure Alchemy is used in the Sciences? Or maybe I'm making stuff up. But when they transmuate something, they do it from the materials they have... of course, the way they do it isn't real, but alchemy does exist with equivalent exchance.

Equivalent exchange in Full Metal Alchemist means that to transmute something they have to give something of equal value, hence Al's body and Ed's arm and leg got taken when they tried to revive their mother. What me and Robald are getting at is when Ed and Al transmute small things such as weapons and the radio Al fixes in one of the earlier episodes, what are they giving in return to do that?

[Nemo]

Equivalent exchange in Full Metal Alchemist means that to transmute something they have to give something of equal value, hence Al's body and Ed's arm and leg got taken when they tried to revive their mother. What me and Robald are getting at is when Ed and Al transmute small things such as weapons and the radio Al fixes in one of the earlier episodes, what are they giving in return to do that?

He's fixing it, hes not adding to it. So you can move things basically, its not about literally giving something always.

[Axel]

Equivalent exchange in Full Metal Alchemist means that to transmute something they have to give something of equal value, hence Al's body and Ed's arm and leg got taken when they tried to revive their mother. What me and Robald are getting at is when Ed and Al transmute small things such as weapons and the radio Al fixes in one of the earlier episodes, what are they giving in return to do that?

When he fixes the radio, he uses the broken parts... that's equivalent exchange. As Nemo said, alchemy can be used to rearrange. Alchemy consists of breaking something down, re arranging and then rebuilding it to be something else. In all cases of alchemy, bar those used with the aid of the Philosopher's stone, equivalent exchange is used.

[Black_Apalachi]

He's fixing it, hes not adding to it. So you can move things basically, its not about literally giving something always.

Yes, but what about for example, when he makes the flowers for the little girl? or the little dolls they made? Or even the canon he made on top of the train? All he did was draw the circle and then make them. He didn't give anything in return.

The line about giving something in return is quoted at the beginning of every episode so I would have expected it to be put into practice. He only realises he doesn't need the circle later on, but surely he should still have to give something in return?

[Axel]

Ah god, I'm not gonna go through every single episode to look for these clips, but I remember the train one - he made the cannon from the materials of the train.