/oss/taxonomy/term/5500/all en /oss/article/history-you-asked/what-rayon <p>Cellulose is the most abundant organic chemical in the world, being the structural component of the cell wall of green plants. In terms of molecular structure, it is composed of anywhere from several hundred to over ten thousand glucose molecules linked together in a linear fashion. Cellulosic fibers from the flax plant were woven into linen as early as 8000 BC, and cotton, which has a cellulose content of over 90% was being grown, spun and woven into cloth by 3,000 BC.</p> Fri, 19 Nov 2021 21:07:03 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8928 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/when-you-play-fire <p>There is an old saying that if you play with fire, eventually you will get burned. The same can be said for certain chemicals. Of course, I don’t mean “play” in the literal sense. What I mean is that when chemicals are produced, especially on a large scale, as many are, accidents can happen. However, risk can be minimized by adhering to good manufacturing practice and proper handling and storage of chemicals. Unfortunately, human error, negligence and greed can take a toll.</p> Fri, 25 Jun 2021 17:12:37 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8769 at /oss