Fairday's Riddle: Time To Change...

Hello, Riddlers! The Philosopher's Stone comes in handy for this craft. Can you guess the answer?

I am a catalyst for change; rotate, splice, rearrange; boil, freeze, snuff it out; churn, burn, satisfy doubt. This is that, now that is this; sometimes hit, sometimes miss. Ions bond, gaseous vapors, metals melt, you'll formulate papers. Transformation is the key; matters not what it be. Inner outer particle waves gain or lose elementary raves. 

What am I? Stop by Friday for the answer!

I gave you a clue!

Microscopic Modern Art 

FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED