Simplicity to Complexity Re-reformulated Quiz

Answer: Teflon

Polytetrafluoroethylene was first discovered accidentally in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett while he was trying to develop a new chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant. He did this while working for DuPont, and the material was soon patented (1941) and was put into production under the name 'Teflon' in 1945.

Teflon is a non-stick material, making it ideal for use in cookware and other kitchen appliances, as well as in industrial applications where a non-stick surface is desirable. It is also known for its chemical resistance, being highly resistant to acids and other corrosive substances, which makes it useful in the chemical industry.

Answer: Codeine

Codeine is a pain-relieving medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as opioids. It is primarily used to treat mild to moderate pain, coughs, and diarrhea.

Codeine was first isolated from opium in the early 19th century by a French chemist named Pierre Robiquet. In the late 19th century it entered the market as a pain reliever and was widely used as a medication for coughs and other respiratory ailments.

As an opioid, codeine can become addictive if improperly administered. For this reason, it is classified as a controlled substance in many countries due to its potential for abuse and dependence.

Answer: Butane

Butane was first discovered in 1864 by British chemist Edmund Ronalds, who isolated it from crude petroleum. It was commercialized a half century later (early 1910s) by Walter O. Snelling. It is a saturated hydrocarbon, meaning that it contains only single bonds between the carbon atoms, which makes it a stable compound.

Butane is a versatile and widely used fuel source that offers several advantages over other types of fuels, including its high energy density, clean-burning properties, and portability. For these reasons, it has found popular use for indoor heating and cooking, as well as for camping stoves, portable heaters, and other applications where portability is important.

Answer: Fool's gold

Iron disulfide (FeS2) is otherwise known as iron pyrite, and is colloquially known as fool's gold because of its similarity in appearance to real gold. The term 'pyrite' is derived from the Greek word (pyrites), which means "of fire" or "in fire," referring to the sparks that are produced when iron pyrite is struck against metal or stone.

Although not as 'valuable' as the gold it resembles, iron pyrite has many commercial uses. It is a source of sulfur (through extraction), and is used in the production of sulfuric acid, which is an important industrial chemical used in a wide range of applications, including the production of fertilizers, dyes, and detergents.

Answer: Chloroform

Chloroform was first discovered in 1831 by American physician Samuel Guthrie, who was experimenting with various chemicals in his laboratory. It was popularized as an anaesthetic by Scottish obstetrician Sir James Simpson Young in 1847 after experiments to find an alternative to the use of ether.

It was widely used into the 20th century, but its use as a general anesthetic declined due to its potential toxicity and the development of safer alternatives. Today, chloroform is primarily used as a solvent in the production of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other chemicals.

Answer: Lye

Generically, a 'lye' is an alkali metal hydroxide that is highly soluble in water and produces caustic basic solutions. But the term 'lye' is most commonly associated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and is also known as caustic soda.

Lye has been used for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating back to ancient Egypt, where it was used to make soap. In more modern times, lye production increased with the discovery of sodium as an element, and the development of a method for producing lye (sodium hydroxide) by electrolysis of sodium chloride, also known as salt.

Today, lye is used in a wide range of applications, including the production of soap, detergents, paper, textiles, and other products.

Answer: Aqua fortis

Aqua fortis, also known as nitric acid, was (possibly) first discovered by Arabic alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan in the 8th century, who named it 'alchemist's vitriol.' Conventional belief, however, has its first written description was found in "De inventione veritatis," which translates as "On the Discovery of Truth," an early 14th century document whose authorship is uncertain. The term 'aqua fortis' (strong water) was ascribed to the substance during that era.

Modern production of nitric acid began in the 19th century, by means of reaction of sulfuric acid with nitrate salts. Today, aqua fortis is used in a wide range of applications, including the production of fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, dyes and pigments, and the production of explosives such as nitroglycerin and TNT. It is also used in the electronics industry for the etching of circuit boards, and in the metalworking industry for the cleaning and pickling of metals.

Answer: Oil of wintergreen

Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) was first isolated from the plant Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) in 1843 by French chemist Auguste André Thomas Cahours. While there are many different plants that produce methyl salicylate, the common name has continued to be associated with its original source of discovery.

More commonly today, methyl salicylate is produced synthetically by esterifying salicylic acid with methanol, allowing for greater levels of production. Amongst some of its applications, oil of wintergreen is used in high concentrations as an additive in deep heating liniments to treat joint and muscular pain, and in low concentrations as a flavouring agent in chewing gum and mints.

Answer: TNT

TNT, or trinitrotoluene, was first made in1863 by German chemist Julius Wilbrand and originally used as a yellow dye. It wasn't until much later in 1891 that its potential for another purpose was discovered by (another) German chemist, Carl Häussermann. Its stability, reliability, and effectiveness as an explosive made it a popular choice for military applications, and it saw extensive use in World War I.

While still commonly used in explosive munitions today, after World War I, TNT also came to be commonly used in mining and construction, as well as in the oil and gas industry. TNT was also used in fireworks and in the entertainment industry for special effects.

Answer: Borax

Borax (sodium borate) is a naturally-occurring, colourless crystalline solid that dissolves in water to make a basic solution. For centuries, the only known source of borax in the Western world was by trade along the Silk Road. The earliest source of borax was traced to Tibet, where it was called 'tincal,' and it took a long time until deposits were discovered in Italy in the early 19th century and in Chile half a century later. It wasn't until a large source was discovered in California in 1856 that borax use became 'all the rage.'

Today, borax has many uses, including as a laundry detergent booster, a natural pesticide, a flux in metallurgy, and as a component in cosmetics and personal care products. It is also used in the production of glass and ceramics, and in the manufacture of fiberglass and other types of insulation.