Editing Abu Bakr al-Razi (section)

===Major works on alchemy===
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}
Al-Razi's works present the first systematic classification of carefully observed and verified facts regarding chemical substances, reactions and apparatus, described in a language almost entirely free from mysticism and ambiguity.

==== ''The Secrets'' ({{transliteration|ar|Al-Asrar}}) ====

''<nowiki/>'The Secrets'<nowiki/>'' (''al-Asrar'', ''Kitāb al-Asrār'', ''<nowiki/>'Book of Secrets''') was written in response to a request from al-Razi's close friend, colleague, and former student, Abu Muhammad ibn Yunis [[Bukhara|al-Bukhari]], a Muslim mathematician, philosopher, and [[natural science|natural scientist]].

==== ''Secret of Secrets'' ({{transliteration|ar|Sirr al-Asrar}}) ====
{{Distinguish|text=[[Secretum Secretorum]] (also known as Sirr al-Asrar, 'The Secret Book of Secrets')}}This is al-Razi's most famous book. Here he gives systematic attention to basic chemical operations important to the history of pharmacy. In this book al-Razi divides the subject of "[[matter]]' into three categories, as in his previous book {{transliteration|ar|Al-Asrar}}.
# Knowledge and identification of the medical components within substances derived from plants, animals, and minerals, and descriptions of the best types for medical treatments.
# Knowledge of equipment and tools of interest to and used by either alchemists or [[apothecaries]].
# Knowledge of seven [[alchemy|alchemical]] procedures and techniques: sublimation and condensation of [[mercury (element)|mercury]], precipitation of sulfur, and arsenic calcination of [[minerals]] (gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron), salts, glass, [[talc]], [[Exoskeleton|shells]], and [[wax]]ing.

: This last category contains additional descriptions of other methods and applications used in [[Chemical synthesis|transmutation]]:
:* The added mixture and use of solvent vehicles.
:* The amount of heat (fire) used, 'bodies and stones', ({{transliteration|ar|al-ajsad}} and {{transliteration|ar|al-ahjar}}) that can or cannot be transmuted into corporal substances such of metals and salts ({{transliteration|ar|al-amlah}}).
:* The use of a liquid [[mordant]] which quickly and permanently colors lesser metals for more lucrative sale and profit.

Similar to the commentary on the 8th century text on [[Amalgam (chemistry)|amalgam]]s ascribed to [[Jabir ibn Hayyan]], al-Razi gives methods and procedures of coloring a silver object to imitate gold ([[gold leafing]]) and the reverse technique of removing its color back to silver. [[Gilding]] and [[silvering]] of other metals ([[alum]], calcium salts, iron, copper, and [[tutty]]) are also described, as well as how colors will last for years without tarnishing or changing.

Al-Razi classified minerals into six divisions:
# Four spirits ({{transliteration|ar|al-arwah}}): [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], [[sal ammoniac]], [[sulfur|sulphur]], and arsenic sulphide ([[orpiment]] and [[realgar]]).
# [[Metals of antiquity|Seven bodies]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-ajsad}}): silver, gold, copper, iron, black lead ({{transliteration|ar|plumbago}}), [[zinc]] ({{transliteration|ar|kharsind}}), and [[tin]].
# Thirteen [[Gemstone|stones]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-ahjar}}): [[Marcasite]] ({{transliteration|ar|marqashita}}), [[Periclase|magnesia]], [[malachite]], [[tutty]] ({{transliteration|ar|tutiya}}, zinc oxide), [[talcum]], [[lapis lazuli]], [[gypsum]], [[azurite]], [[haematite]] (iron oxide), arsenic oxide{{which|date=November 2021}}, [[mica]], [[asbestos]], and glass (then identified as made of sand and alkali of which the transparent crystal damascene is considered the best).
# Seven [[vitriol]]s ({{transliteration|ar|al-zajat}}): [[alum]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-shabb}} {{lang|ar|الشب}}), and white ({{transliteration|ar|qalqadis}} {{lang|ar|القلقديس}}), black, red ({{transliteration|ar|suri}} {{lang|ar|السوري}}), and yellow ({{transliteration|ar|qulqutar}} {{lang|ar|القلقطار}}) vitriols (the impure sulfates of iron, copper, etc.), green ({{transliteration|ar|qalqand}} {{lang|ar|القلقند}}).
# Seven [[borate]]s: [[natron]], and impure sodium borate.
# Eleven salts ({{transliteration|ar|al-amlah}}): including brine, [[Sodium chloride|common salt]], [[ash]]es, [[naphtha]], live [[calcium oxide|lime]], and [[urine]], [[Sodium chloride|rock]], and [[sea salt]]s. Then he separately defines and describes each of these substances, the best forms and colours of each, and the qualities of various adulterations.

Al-Razi gives also a list of apparatus used in alchemy. This consists of 2 classes:
# Instruments used for the dissolving and melting of metals such as the blacksmith's hearth, bellows, crucible, thongs (tongue or ladle), {{linktext|macerator}}, stirring rod, cutter, grinder (pestle), file, shears, {{linktext|descensory}}, and semi-cylindrical iron mould.
# Utensils used to carry out the process of transmutation and various parts of the distilling apparatus: the retort, [[alembic]], shallow iron pan, potters kiln and blowers, large oven, cylindrical stove, glass cups, flasks, [[phial]]s, beakers, glass funnel, crucible, [[aludel]], heating lamps, mortar, cauldron, hair-cloth, sand- and water-bath, sieve, flat stone mortar and chafing-dish.