Al-Khwarizmi al-Khati
Eleventh-century chemist and alchemist from Khwarazm, author of the treatise “Ayn al-sana‘a wa awn al-sana‘a” on practical work with metals; he lived and worked in Iraq.
- Occupation:
- Scientist, Chemist
- Real name:
- Abu al-Hakim Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Khwarizmi al-Khati
- Birthplace:
- Beruniy District, Karakalpakstan
Biography
Abu al-Hakim Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Khwarizmi al-Khati (al-Kathi) was a chemist and alchemist of the eleventh century. His nisba points to Kath, the ancient capital of Khwarazm, on whose site the modern town of Beruniy in Karakalpakstan lies. He should not be confused with the mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who lived two centuries earlier; the two share only the reference to Khwarazm.
Very little is known about his life, and the years of his birth and death are not recorded. Reference works place the height of his activity at about 1034 and report that he spent many years in Iraq, in Baghdad and its surroundings, probably remaining there for the rest of his life.
One of his works survives: an alchemical treatise, “Ayn al-sana‘a wa awn al-sana‘a” (“The Essence of the Art and Help for the Artisans”). As scholars describe it, the book consists of an introduction and seven chapters. The first deal with substances and apparatus, followed by the operations that alchemists of the day called making the “red” and the “white”, that is, gold and silver.
The central, seventh chapter sets out simplified methods for carrying out the main reactions of the time. Proportions of the substances are given, and every operation involves heating. The author writes for a reader familiar with the chemical theory of his age and draws not only on earlier books but on experiments of his own.
Works
- “Ayn al-sana‘a wa awn al-sana‘a” (“The Essence of the Art and Help for the Artisans”)Alchemical treatise
An introduction and seven chapters: substances and apparatus, then the operations called the “red” and the “white” (gold and silver); the main chapter gives simplified methods for the principal reactions, with proportions of the substances.