Technological Advances in the field of Chemistry
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Vacuum Pump
In 1650, Otto invented a vacuum pump that was designed to pull air out of whatever vessel to which it was connected. It contained a piston and an air-gun cylinder with one-way flap valves. In many subsequent experiments, he used it to study the effects of vacuum. The most famous involves two copper hemispheres, closed tightly with the air pumped out of them. The Vacuum pump is the Vacuum we use almost everyday to clean our houses.
Electro Magnet
British electrician, William Sturgeon invented the electromagnet in 1825. The first electromagnet was a horseshoe-shaped piece of iron that was wrapped with a loosely wound coil of several turns. When a current was passed through the coil; the electromagnet became magnetized and when the current was stopped the coil was de-magnetized. Sturgeon displayed its power by lifting nine pounds with a seven-ounce piece of iron wrapped with wires through which the current of a single cell battery was sent. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! ;)
Electric Battery
The electric battery is used for many different things in the science world. Alessandro Volta invented the Voltaic Pile in 1880 and discovered the first practical method of generating electricity. The metallic conducting arc was used to carry the electricity over a greater distance. Alessandro Volta's voltaic pile was the first "wet cell battery" that produced a reliable, steady current of electricity.
Gas Discharge tube
J. Plucker built one of the first gas discharge tubes.Gas discharge tubes allow an electric current to passed through a gas, the gas emits light. This emission is exploited in many electric lamps. Fluorescent lamps, “neon” signs, and mercury-vapor and sodium-vapor lamps are common examples of this kind of electric lighting, called gas-discharge lamps. The colors of gas-discharge lamps vary widely depending on the identity of the gas and the construction of the lamp. The gas discharge tube was created in 1859.
Plastic Celluloid
Celluloid is derived from cellulose and alcoholized camphor. John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for the ivory in billiard balls in 1868. Besides billiard balls, celluloid became famous as the first flexible photographic film used for still photography and motion pictures. Without J.W. Hyatt's invention of the Plastic Celluloid we would not have alot of things we use on a daily basis.
Synthetic Fiber
Nylon, the first synthetic fiber, made its debut in the United States as a replacement for silk, just in time for World War II rationing. Its novel use as a material for women's stockings overshadowed more practical uses, such as a replacement for the silk in parachutes and other military uses. H. Chardonnet produced a synthetic fiber in 1924 which saved alot of money for Americans throughout the years!
Antibotic/ Penicillin
Whenever, you get sick what does your mom do first? Probably sets and appointment with a doctor so they can see what is wrong with you and decide from there what to do. So, lets say the doctor says you have an ear infection, do you know which prescripton they will give you? They will prescribe the antibotic penicillin which Sir Alexander Fleming discovered in 1928.
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