JABIR IBN HAYYAN’S CONTRIBUTION

Jabir Ibn Hayyan had greatly influenced the chemist field, who made the discipline
more based on science than myth. Besides, Jabir Ibn Hayyan was a well-known polymath of
the Islamic Golden Era who made important contributions to several disciplines, especially in
chemistry, alchemy, and the early stages of experimental science. The 1001 Inventions:
Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry multimedia initiative highlights the groundbreaking work
of the eighteenth-century polymath Jabir ibn Hayyan, and highlights the contributions made
by ancient cultures and civilizations to the foundations of modern chemistry. Majority of Jabir
Ibn Hayyan's life was spent at Kufa, Iraq, where he developed and mastered processes
including evaporation, filtration, amalgamation, distillation, purification, liquefaction, and
crystallization. In addition, he also created accurate measurement apparatus in discovering
sulfuric, nitric, and nitro muriatic acids, all of which are today crucial components of the
chemical industry (World: UNESCO and 1001 inventions join forces for the international year
of the periodic table of chemical elements, 2019.(2018, Oct 30)). He advanced the field of
chemical knowledge in his day by emphasizing the value of experimentation, documentation,
and the use of laboratory equipment (Akinbode, 2020). This scholar contribution significantly
give a big impact to the chemistry revolution. Thus, his amazing contributions will be
explained as below:
1. Invented several chemical processes.
Jabir Ibn Hayyan was the first who developed processes include
evaporation, filtration, amalgamation, distillation, purification, liquefaction,
and crystallization. He experimented with a variety of chemical methods and
processes. He developed upon and improved upon numerous alchemical
techniques, which served as foundation for some of the procedures listed.
Besides, Ibn Hayyan realized that the experiments in science are crucial and
important to be applied and until now, it was known as modern chemistry
(Akinbode, 2020). Jabir made a substantial contribution by systematizing and
documenting a number of alchemical processes. As an example, the distillation
process is now use in the making of perfume, gasoline, plastics and more.

Figure 1: abir b. Hayyan described distillation, by using alembic in 8th century.

The Arabic text refers to the various vessels and the alembic, describing how the
condensation is conveyed from the upper cooling vessel to the recipient flask.

(Source: 1001 inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, 3rd eition, page
93)
Besides, Jabir Ibn Hayyan also discovered hydrochloric acid (from salt) and nitric acid
(from saltpetre) by distilling different salts along with sulphuric acid. (Akinbode,
2020) Ibn Hayyan founded the most subtle Sulphur which is golden. A golden was
founded by distinguished from other metals and it cannot be burnt and also are
stable in the fire.

In addition, Ibn Hayyan was credited for ‘Aqua Regia’ substance invention. Aqua
regia is a mixture of acids by combining hydrochloric acid and nitric acid that are able
to dissolve elemental gold and platinum. (Harahap, 2022). The most common and
effective aqua regia function is to mix one part of concentrated nitric with three parts
of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Moreover, aqua regia is extremely corrosive and
should be handled with great care. It is still widely used nowadays in metallurgical
especially for the dissolution and analysis of precious like gold, platinum and
palladium. It is employed in refining and extracting these metals from ores or
electronic waste. Other than that, the discovery of citric acid (the sour component of
lemons and other unripe dood), acetic acid (from vinegar), and tartaric acid is also
credited to him. (Akinbode, 2020) The scientist (Ibn Hayyan) also introduced the use
of manganese dioxide to counteract the green tinge created by iron. This chemical
process is still used nowadays. Other great contribution that gives a big impact
nowadays is, Ibn Hayyan recorded about boiling process for the wine as it will react to
produce flammable vapor which paved the way for discovery of ethanol (Akinbode,
2020).
Additionally, Ibn Hayyan presents techniques for raising the wide range of
manufactured goods, including the manufacturing of pure mercury from cinnabar, the
production of steel and other metals (as well as the passivation of their oxidation), the
dyeing and waterproofing of cotton and leather, and the chemical analysis of pigments
and other natural substances. Both practitioners of various industries and scientists
throughout the centuries used this material as a source of their reference in
experiments (The Legend of Jabir Ibn Hayyan, the Great Alchemist of the Islamic
World, 2021).
 2. Wrote books and were translated into Latin
Jabir Ibn Hayyan was a productive writer. There are numerous books and
manuscripts attributed to him. Some writers said that Jabir Ibn Hayyan had
authored about 300 philosophy of books, 1300 books on mechanical devices,
and hundreds of alchemy books (Akinbode, 2020) However, unfortunately that
we need to understand many of his original writings have been lost over time.
Some of his works survived in fragmentary forms or were compiled and
translated by later scholars. Most of Ibn Hayyan’s books were translated to
Latin and various European languages at the middle age and has given a big
impact to the world of chemist. Some of the books that attributed by Jabir Ibn
Hayyan are:

• Kitab al-Kimya (The Book of the Chemistry)

This is one of the major works attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan. It is a
comprehensive collection of writings that covers various aspects of
alchemy and chemistry. However, it's important to note that the
authenticity of some sections within this compilation is debated
among scholars.

• Kitab al-Ahjar (The Book of Stones)

This work discusses the properties and uses of various stones and
minerals. It is attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan and covers topics related
to the transmutation of metals and the search for the Philosopher's
Stone. Some said that this book was written in highly confusing code
that was only understood by those who are mastered into his school
of alchemy (S.Amir, 2007).

• Kitab al-Tasrif (The Book of the Method of Carrying Out Chemical

Operations)
This book is attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan and is said to contain
detailed descriptions of laboratory apparatus, chemical procedures,
and experimental techniques.

• Kutub Al Mawazin (Book of Balances)

This book discusses the science of balance to a host of subject matters
from cosmology to mathematics.

• Kitab Al-Rahmaa Al Kabir (The Great Book of Mercy)

This was considered by Kraus to be the oldest older work in corpus. Some 10th-century it
considers it the only authentic work written by Jabir himself.

• Kutub Al Miawa Ashara (One Hundred and Twelve Books)

 • Kitab Al-Sabe’en (The Book Of Seventy)
• Kitab Al Zuhraa (Book of Venus)

3. Credited with the invention and development of many chemical instruments.

The instrument that is most currently being used in the chemistry industry is
alembic. The alembic has made the distillation process become easier, safe and
effective. Ibn Hayyan discovered hydrochloric acid (from salt) and nitric acid
(from saltpere) by distilling different salts along with sulphuric acid (Akinbode,
2020).

Figure2: An illustration of various experiments and instruments used by Jabir Ibn

Hayyan.

Jabir Ibn Hayyan had contributed and focused on developing fundamental chemical
methods through experimentation and the study of chemical reactions and their principles,
even though ancient alchemy was primarily concerned with the preparation of precious
metals. This helped to develop chemistry from the domain of myths and legends to a scientific
discipline. It is mentioned that the innovation of chemistry in Europe can be traced and
credited directly to Jabir Ibn Hayyan (S.Amir, 2007).