Jabir ibn Hayyan

Founder of early chemistry whose experiments transformed alchemy into a science

Jabir ibn Hayyan (c. 721–815 CE), an Islamic polymath, revolutionized alchemy by introducing experimental methodology and laboratory apparatus like the alembic. His works, including the Book of Stones and Kitab al-Kimya, laid the groundwork for modern chemistry. He discovered acids (e.g., nitric and hydrochloric), distillation techniques, and dyes, bridging practical craft with theoretical inquiry.

Jabir’s corpuscular theory of matter influenced later European scientists like Boyle and Newton. His emphasis on quantification and reproducibility marked a departure from mystical alchemy. Learn more here. By systematizing chemical processes, Jabir transformed proto-science into a disciplined field, earning the title Father of Chemistry.