The Beginnings of Chemical Synthesis

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:52:42 +0000

Chemistry can be roughly divided into two branches, analysis and synthesis. Chemists either try to identify existing substances or make new ones. By the early 19th century, a number of substances had been isolated from plants, with morphine from the poppy, quinine from cinchona bark, and coumarin from tonka beans being examples. However, given that these substances were derived from living species, they were believed to be endowed with a “life force” that could not be duplicated in the lab, and that such “organic” substances could not be synthesized.

From Black Goo to Blue Dye and Beyond — the Fascinating History of Aniline

Joe Schwarcz PhD — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:06:17 +0000

This article was first published in The Montreal Gazette.

During the Second World War, American soldiers carried a first aid kit attached to their belt that contained a powder to be sprinkled on any open wound to prevent infection. That powder was sulfathiazole, synthesized by chemists from aniline, then already a compound of great commercial importance with a fascinating history.

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The Beginnings of Chemical Synthesis

From Black Goo to Blue Dye and Beyond — the Fascinating History of Aniline