CONTRIBUTION OF ISLAM TOWARDS CHEMISTRY

ANCIENT ISLAMIC ALCHEMISTS ANCIENT ISLAMIC ALCHEMISTS   Jabir ibn Hayyan Zakariya Razi Al-Kindi Al-Majriti   ANCIENT ISLAMIC ALCHEMISTS Jabir ibn Hayyan Zakariya Razi Al-Kindi

[JABIR IBN HAYYAN] -geber- Jabir ibn Hayyan was the first of many well-known alchemist from the Islamic world. He also was called as father of chemistry. He was born in 721 century, in the town of Iran and died in 815 at Kufa. His full name is Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan al- azdi, sometimes called al-Harrani and al-Sufi. When he was child, his family move to Arabia, where Jabir studied under Imam Ja’far Sadiq and the Ummayed prince Khalid ibn Yazid. In the western world. Jabir well known as Geber.

Contributions to Chemistry [ Chemical Processes ] Pure distillation which could fully purify chemical substances with the alembic. Filtration ,Crystallization liquefaction, purification, oxidization , and evaporation [ Laboratory Apparatus ] The alembic was invented and named by the Muslim chemist Geber. The chemical retort used for distillation [ Chemical Substances ] Acids Mineral acids - nitric, sulfuric and hydrochloric acids Acetic acid was also first concentrated from vinegar through distillation. discovery of citric acid (the sour component of lemons and other unripe fruits) and tartaric acid (from wine-making residues).

Chemical elements arsenic, antimony and bismuth ,aqua regia a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids which can dissolve gold classify sulfur (‘the stone which burns’ that characterized the principle of combustibility) and mercury (which contained the idealized principle of metallic properties) as 'elements [ Chemical Industries ] manufacture of glue from cheese. invented Plated mail for use in armors ,helmets and shields described 46 original recipes for producing coloured and stained glass manufacture of artificial pearls and for the purification of pearls described the first recipes for the dying and artificial colouring of gemstones and pearls.

[ZAKARIYA RAZI] -rhazes- Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn Zakariya al-Razi (864-930 A.D.) was born at Ray, Iran, Initially, he was interested in music but later on he learnt medicine, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry and philosophy from a student of Hunayn Ibn Ishaq, who was well versed in the ancient Greek, Persian and Indian systems of medicine and other subjects He wrote Kitab al Asrar in chemistry dealing with the preparation of chemical substances and their application. His great work of the art of alchemy was recently found in the library of an Indian prince. Razi has proved himself to be a greater expert than all his predecessors, including Jabir, in the exact classification of substances. His discription of chemical experiments as well as their apparatus are distinguished for their clarity which were not visible in the writings of his predecessors.

[ Chemical Processes ] Dry distillation melting substances: hearth , crucible tongs ,scissors , hammer , file preparation of drugs, evacuation tube, flasks ,rosewater flasks, water bath [ Chemical Substances ] Derivative and artificial substances lead(II) oxide (PbO), red lead (Pb3O4), tin(II) oxide (Isfidaj), copper acetate (Zaniar), copper(II) oxide (CuO), Natural substances Four spirits: mercury, sal ammoniac, arsenic, sulfur. Seven fusible metals: gold, silver, copper, iron, mercury. Thirteen stones:daws (a constituent of iron and steel), tutiya, malachite green, turquoise, hematite, arsenic oxide, lead sulfide, Six vitriols: black vitriol, alum, qalqand, qalqadis, qalqatar,

Seven borates: borax, bread borax, natron, nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium borate. Thirteen salts: lead(II) acetate (sweet), magnesium sulfate (bitter), potassium nitrate, naphthenate, black salt (Indian), salt of egg, salt of urine, calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) Vegetable and animal substances only vegetable substance used by Muslim alchemists are the ashes of the Ushnan plant, from which they produced alkali metals and alkali salts lists ten animal substances that were used by him and his contemporary alchemists: hair, skulls, eggs, nacre (mother of pearl) and horn. He writes that hair, brains, bile, eggs, skulls and blood were used to prepare sal ammoniac [ Chemical Industries ] Distill petroleum. Invent kerosene and kerosene lamps. Invent soap bars and modern recipes for soap. Produce antiseptics.

[AL-KINDI] -al-kindus- Abu Yousuf Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi was born at Kufa around 800 A.D. His father was an official of Haroon al-Rashid. Al-Kindi was a contemporary of al-Mamun, al- Mu'tasim and al-Mutawakkil and flourished largely at Baghdad. He w as formally employed by Mutawakkil as a calligrapher.. Al-Kindi was a philosopher, mathematician, physicist, astronomer physician, geographer and even an expert in music. It is surprising that he made original contributions to all of these fields. In chemistry, he opposed the idea that base metals can be converted to precious metals. In contrast to prevailing alchemical views, he was emphatic that chemical reactions cannot bring about the transformation of elements.

[ Chemical Processes ] transmutation of metals into more precious metals such as gold or silver. the isolation of ethanol (alcohol) production of pure distilled alcohol from the distillation of wine. [ Chemical Substances ] invented a wide variety of scent and perfume products, and is considered as the father of the perfume described the production of pure distilled alcohol from the distillation of wine. elaborated a vast number of recipes for a wide range of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals provided the earliest recipe for the production of camphor invented recipes for fragrant oils, salves, aromatic waters, and substitutes or imitations of costly drugs.