Introductory texts are read!

So, Alchemy is similar to Potioneering, but there are some fundamental differences. Most of the steps are more symbolic than anything, with ingredients being used for their memetic properties rather than magical ones. It also includes things like steps that are apparently useless, such as Vanishing an ingredient after crushing it in the mortar in order to prep it, and it deals with more minerals and higher temperatures than standard Potioneering.