将这段话翻译成简明扼要的英文版本：

在古代，人们使用炼金术在实验室里操作各种化学反应，期望能够制造黄金。炼金术士试图改变物质的本质，通过这些实验寻求实现物质形态的转变，包括将普通金属变成贵重金属，特别是黄金。这种追求往往失败了，但炼金术的过程及其失败为后来的化学科学的发展奠定了价值连城的基础。
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In ancient times, alchemists experimented with various chemical reactions in laboratories, aiming to create gold. They sought to transform matter, including turning base metals into precious metals, particularly gold. Although these pursuits often failed, the process of alchemy and its failures laid invaluable groundwork for the development of modern chemistry.
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