Libavius (or Libau), Andreas (c. 1560-1616)

German chemist. A prolific writer and controversialist, he is best known for his Alchemia (1597), considered the first textbook of modern chemistry. With over 200 illustrations, is a prime source of information on the practical aspects of 16th-century chemistry.

Libavius played an important role in ridding chemistry of its links with alchemy and giving chemistry a scientific basis. He developed a rudimentary system of chemical analysis and discovered stannic chloride, SnCl4.

Born at Halle, the son of a weaver, Libavius studied at Jena university, then worked initially as a doctor. From 1588, however, he was a teacher of history and literature, first at Jena, and then at Rothenburg (1591-1607) and Coburg (1607-16).