Final answer:
Nanotechnology is the term that refers to the art of manipulating materials on a molecular or atomic scale. This field involves designing and manufacturing devices at the scale of atoms and molecules. It is different from historical practices like alchemy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the art of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale is nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a field of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. For example, it involves the production of nano-devices such as integrated circuits. Scientist such as Dr. Deanna D'Alessandro works with metal-containing materials that demonstrate unique electronic, optical, and magnetic properties, contributing to the field of nanotechnology. It's also essential to note that this is different from alchemy, an old chemical science, and philosophy that aimed to achieve the transmutation of the base metals into gold.
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