Chemistry Fun: When ‘Zakariya al-Razi’ Teaches ‘Marie Curie’ Chemistry’s Magical Tricks!

Sunday, November 23, 2025

SAEDNEWS: Despite facing gender bias, Marie Curie became a scientific icon. Imagining her alongside Zakariya al-Razi highlights the meeting of two pivotal eras in science.

Chemistry Fun: When ‘Zakariya al-Razi’ Teaches ‘Marie Curie’ Chemistry’s Magical Tricks!

According to the Science and Technology Desk of Saed News, Marie Curie was a distinguished Polish-French scientist active in physics and chemistry. She is renowned for discovering the elements radium and polonium and for her groundbreaking research on radioactivity.

Major Achievements:

  • Double Nobel Laureate: Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have received it in two different fields—Physics and Chemistry.

  • Radioactivity Research: She coined the term "radioactivity" and her studies paved the way for medical applications, including radiotherapy.

  • First Female Professor at the Sorbonne: After the death of her husband, Pierre Curie, she continued teaching at this prestigious university.

  • World War I Contributions: During the First World War, she designed mobile X-ray units to help treat wounded soldiers.

Intelligence Test Question:

Zakariya Razi, one of the greatest scientists of the Islamic Golden Age, made significant contributions to medicine, chemistry, philosophy, and mathematics. Born in the city of Ray, Iran, he left a lasting impact on global science.

Major Achievements:

  • Father of Modern Chemistry: Razi was the first scientist to transform chemistry into an independent discipline.

  • Medicine and Healthcare: He authored numerous medical texts, the most famous being al-Hawi and al-Mansuri, with al-Hawi serving as a medical reference in Europe for centuries.

  • Discovery of Alcohol and Sulfuric Acid: He was a pioneer in discovering essential chemicals such as alcohol and strong acids, widely used in chemistry.

  • Scientific Methods: Razi emphasized observation, experimentation, and practical experience, laying the foundation for the modern scientific method.

Shared Legacy of Marie Curie and Zakariya Razi:

  • Impact on Modern Science: Both scientists made contributions that profoundly advanced knowledge.

  • Pioneering Scientific Methods: Both stressed observation and experimentation.

  • Applied Science Focus: Curie’s research in cancer treatment and Razi’s discoveries in pharmacology highlight their commitment to practical applications of science.