Science in a Golden Age - Chemistry: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone
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Published 2015-11-03
Between the 9th and 14th centuries, there was a Golden Age of Science when scholars from the Islamic world, like Jabir Ibn Hayyan and Al-Razi, introduced a rigorous experimental approach that laid the foundations for the modern scientific method.
In this episode of Science in a Golden Age, theoretical physicist Jim al-Khalili leads us on an exploration of just how these scientists began the process of transforming the superstition of alchemy into the science of chemistry.
He begins by unpicking the medieval obsession with alchemy - the effort to turn common, less valuable metals into gold. He looks into the work of Jabir Ibn Hayyan, a polymath who grew up in modern-day Iran and who is credited with applying an experimental-based approach to early chemistry.
Through his determined efforts to dissolve and transform metals, Ibn Hayyan learnt much about acids. Together with Professor Hal Sosabowski from the University of Brighton, Jim looks at the reaction of gold with aqua regia - a powerful combination of acids that Ibn Hayyan discovered.
Following on from Ibn Hayyan's work, chemists like Al-Kindi and Al-Razi furthered the development of scientific practice, basing their work on careful experiments and observations. Their obsession with accuracy was what qualified them as being amongst the first true scientists. Jim shows us the 'Mizan Al-Hikma', an intricate set of scales built by a scholar by the name of Al-Khazani in the 12th century. What set this piece of equipment apart was not just the beauty of the craftsmanship, but the exacting precision it delivered.
The chemical processes developed by the Islamic scientists were motivated by numerous factors - one of which was the requirements of Islam itself - for example, the washing of the hands, face and feet before prayer. This requirement for cleanliness quickly led to the development of whole industries - like the production of soap. The first solid bars of soap were manufactured in the Islamic world and Jim looks at how alkalis helped develop the soap industries of the Golden Age.
From Jabir Ibn Hayyan to Al-Kindi to Al-Razi, this episode covers the works of some of most prolific and influential chemists of the Golden Age and tells the story of how the evolution of modern chemistry began.
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All Comments (21)
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Dear Jim al-Khalili, I am very impressed with your work who have given a wonderful exposure of the Golden Age on modern Science. I just say it's incredible.
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history is what happened in the past, not what you wanted to happened in the past. I think those who hate Muslims should also accept history even though they hate Muslims. Peace.
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Thanks a lot for your awesome work about Islamic Golden Age. Thank you..
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Not just knowledge of chemistry which was stolen by western scientist. They were culprit in all fields of sciences. No one can remove their names and bring forward Medieval scientist into lime light only Jim Alkhalili has done this work partially ....so thank you sir for your efforts. Your knowledge and work cannot be matched by anyone. You are a polymath, a true genius and a genuine person. Salute!!!
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This series is exceptionally interesting and the host has an awesome aura. Once again the best news network shows what quality means.
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It’s amazing we have all these scientists, researchers, academics, universities, historians talking about science in the early Islamic world , and then we have these trolls behind keyboard .. oh it was all copied ...
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I am proud to be a Baghdadi (ethnicity: Arab but born in Baghdad).
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Modern Chemist of so called Renaissance era should give references of Islamic scholars of golden age otherwise it's the crime of plagiarism which they committed.
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Interesting to know the inventions made in the golden age. Great respect to the author of these programmes.
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Thanks for showing us basic scientific researches of our Muslim scientists, a very impressive video. جذاک اللہ
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Thanks sir you are lucky enough to visit such places and update us with the real happenings of past.i am crazy for such stuff
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I really love these episodes - wish they were longer.
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Thanks so much for posting!
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Thanks for this, is really fantastic i will really apreciate if somebody can help me to find some of the Ibn Al baytar work i had about a month looking for it but nothing found yet. Thanks.
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Hey does anyone know the tune and artist in the music during the glass blowing scene? It features in a few episodes of Science in a Golden age series.
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What is the name of chemicals that gives rise to light
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Never would have seen this without the recent post about it, thanks for cool content Qatar!
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Really Muslim scholars contributed to science.
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thanks brother jim
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This information is really amazing... Thank you for such amazing information 🤍
