The only reason Dmitri is known as the father of the periodic table rather than Meyer is because he had his published first. It provides a formula which links the x-ray emissions of any element and the amount of positive charges found within its nucleus
when atomic number changes, number of protons in the nucleus changes and so does the number of electrons. This completely changes the element as the properties of the atom will change. So, atomic number is unique for each element and therefore considered as "fingerprint" of elements.
Alchemy was infatuated with the creation of new materials, such as transmutation of base metals into precious metals such as gold [1]. Alchemists also strived to uncover or create a universal elixir, “[a] substance that would indefinitely prolong life”
