Here’s how to how to solve the alchemy stone puzzle in Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys.
đź“śPart One: Recipe (Or jump down to Part 2: Perform Alchemy and watch the video at 4:22)
Once you enter the secret alchemy lab, step around the desk and explore. When you pick up the black stone, Nancy will comment aloud that she thinks there is something inside it. Use clues in the area to solve the alchemy puzzle and reveal what is inside the stone. There is also a poster above a nearby cabinet on the wall for “Symbols of Alchemy” which will help. It shows the zodiac signs and the processes.
Directly across from the door is a work desk to walk around. Open the old book on the left. There is a loose, semi-transparent sheet that has a sketch of that same black stone in the center. Using your cursor, drag the paper over to the page on the right so that it snaps into place. Right mouse click over the page to rotate it until it snaps in and you zoom in closer to the book.
Why is this snapping to this location? The red Xs on each page now align. Additionally, turn the page to see the illustration of three statues on the right, and alchemy symbols on the left. The symbol for “tin” or “Jupiter” looks like a swirly number 4. It is on the bottom left, paired with an arrow. Back on the stone page, the swirly 4 is now aligning with the arrow underneath.
You can also barely see the vertical three-pronged trident, paired with an arrow. These also match up on the page with the stone illustration.
First, let’s note that the first lady statue’s vase has a dark figure, which is connected to the symbol below for Earth. The center statue with a cracked vase is connected to Fire. The third statue is connected to Air.
Next, on the first page, look at the round cipher. Starting with the symbol where the red X begins, match the symbol with its partner on page two’s chart, then follow the red line to the next symbol and match that symbol, and do this for the next two until you have an order of four symbols.
On the torn paper, finish sketching those final symbols under the elemental symbols from the vases. Notice the X is the starting one, and the second ? is grouped under the first symbol for Earth.
🧪Part Two: Perform Alchemy 4:22
Walk over to the alchemy table. Using your own written recipe, the first step involves “Earth” which is to use mortar and pestle to grind the two elements together. The two elements are in glass tubes to your left. The first you are looking for is symbolized by a moon, which is the turquoise tube. Pick it up and place in the center black dish for a moment.
The second symbol is )•( in an Orange tube. Place that in the black dish, then place both in the mortar, which is the small, golden bowl with the Earth symbol on it.
Move the ground powder back to the black dish. Pick up the tube in the lower middle rack and add it to the black dish.
Heat the ingredients on the burner with the triangular fire symbol on the right until white smoke appears and the center fills with green liquid.
Next, find the mercury symbol on your recipe among the tubes – it is red-brown in color, located in the top row, second from the left. Add it to the black dish.
Then add it to the glass cloche (dome) where the symbol for air is seen. The black stone is here. Watch it transform. You will know it is correct when the white cloud fills the cloche and you get an ingot with three symbols on it.
Here’s the full video walkthrough:
