Final answer:
The alchemist at the Coptic monastery likely traded knowledge with monks, as both were deeply engaged in the study and preservation of knowledge. Monasteries served as centers of learning, and alchemists often sought to push scientific and philosophical boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The alchemist at the Coptic monastery engaged in various activities that combined the realms of spirituality and scientific inquiry. Monasteries were known as centers of learning and work, involving not just prayer and meditation, but also the study and preservation of knowledge, including classical works and scientific treatises. Alchemists such as the one described were often focused on the pursuit of the universal solvent or the elixir of life, thereby pushing the boundaries of both science and philosophy. At the Coptic monastery, an alchemist would be most likely to trade knowledge with monks, as they were both interested in the preservation and advancement of understanding; moreover, monasteries were repositories of information. Conducting experiments was part and parcel of an alchemist's work, but it is the sharing of this knowledge with the monastic community that stands out as the primary task in such a setting.