A Belgian-born chemist-entrepreneur, Leo Baekeland had a knack for spotting profitable opportunities. Setting out to make an insulator, he invented the first true plastic and transformed the world.
Today plastic is nearly everywhere, from the fillings in our teeth to the chips in our computers (researchers are developing flexible transistors made of plastic instead of silicon so they can make marvels such as a flat-panel television screen that will roll like a scroll up your living-room wall). Plastic may not be as vilified now as it was in 1967, but it's still a stuff that people love and hate.
He filed patent applications and soon began leaking word of his invention to other chemists. In 1909 Baekeland unveiled the world's first fully synthetic plastic at a meeting of the New York chapter of the American Chemical Society. Would-be customers discovered it could be fashioned into molded insulation, valve parts, pipe stems, billiard balls, knobs, buttons, knife handles and all manner of items.
1. __________ was a belgian-born chemist. (full name)
2. While trying to make an __________ he invented plastic.
3. In __________ Baekeland unveiled the world's first synthetic plastic.
4. He announced the discovery of plastic in __________ . (what city?)
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