Islamic Chemistry and Alchemy (al-Kimiya)

From Alchemy to Chemistry

The word 'chemistry' derives from the Arabic 'al-kimiya,' and Muslim scientists transformed ancient alchemy from a mystical pursuit into an empirical science. Through systematic experimentation, documentation, and the invention of laboratory apparatus, they laid the groundwork for modern chemistry.

Jabir ibn Hayyan

Jabir ibn Hayyan (c. 721-815 CE), known in the Latin West as Geber, is considered the father of chemistry. He introduced the experimental method to chemical investigation and invented or refined processes including distillation, crystallization, calcination, sublimation, and evaporation. He classified substances into categories that foreshadowed the modern periodic table's groupings: metals, non-metals, and substances capable of being distilled. He designed and built laboratory equipment including the alembic (al-anbiq), the retort, and various furnaces.

Al-Razi's Contributions

Al-Razi (854-925 CE) classified chemical substances into categories (earths, metals, stones, salts, etc.) in his 'Kitab al-Asrar' (Book of Secrets). He described the preparation of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and alcohol through distillation, and developed techniques for refining metals.

Legacy

Many fundamental chemical terms entered European languages from Arabic: alchemy, alcohol, alkali, elixir, and amalgam. The systematic experimental approach that Muslim chemists developed was transmitted to medieval Europe through Latin translations and directly influenced the development of modern chemistry. Their insistence on repeatable experiments and precise documentation was centuries ahead of European practice.