What Is the Chaos of the Metals?

Alchemists believed that metallic acetate was the gummy stuff from in the earth from which all metals grew. They didn't know that what it actually is is lead atoms bound to tic acid molecules, so it's a mixture of mineral and organic substance. It has four oxygen atoms. Led tet oxide, a red lead. And if you put that lead oxide into acetic acid, that acid will eat the lead and produce a substance called lead aceta,. But there are things about that process which modern chemistry doesn't understand very well - they're hard to find professional chemist who can explain.