Base metals, like lead, iron and tin, were seen as more primitive than gold and silver, which were regarded as " noble" .

人们认为铅，铁和锡等贱金属比被认为是 “贵重”的金和银更原始。

The operative side deals mostly with something called " transmutation" – where the intent is to transform base metals, like lead, into gold.

操作方面主要处理所谓的“嬗变”——目的是将贱金属，如铅，转变成黄金。

Transmutation, as a branch of alchemy, sought to " improve" the state of these base metals, just as the speculative side of alchemy aims to seek truth and enlightenment.

al变作为炼金术的一个分支，试图“改善” 这些贱金属的状态 ，就像炼金术的投机方旨在寻求真相和启示一样。