LADDERGRAM ALCHEMY

GAMES Magazine

April, 1985

Richard Smith

 

I'll never understand why alchemists had such a hard time changing LEAD into GOLD.  It can be done in three easy steps by changing one letter at a time, forming a new word at each step: LEAD, LOAD, GOAD, GOLD. 

But can you find a way to do it in only two steps?

Answer:

 

Since LEAD and GOLD have three letters that are different, the rules of laddergrams would require three letter changes. A two-step solution is therefore impossible - unless you catch on to the trick. The chemical symbol for lead is Pb, and for gold it is Au. Therefore:

 

Pb (lead) 

Pu*

Au (gold)

 

*Pu is the chemical symbol for plutonium.