Molecule of the Day

Here’s a quickie. One of the earliest totally synthetic plastics (I don’t count cellulose derivatives since the work of polymerizing the stuff was already done by the tree) was Bakelite, a resin of formaldehyde and phenol (I show only the monomers here, that Wikipedia link will give you an idea of the kind of complex mixtures you get).

Bakelite is a trade name for one of a broad class of resins, aptly named phenol-formaldehyde resins. They are not used very much today except in specialized applications; the plastic is too brittle (not to mention both monomers are a bit more toxic than those in modern plastics, not that those are such a picnic either).

Nonetheless, Bakelite seems to make its way into things, still. You know that “burning electronics” smell? Like when the magic smoke is escaping from whatever gadget you’ve irrevocably harmed? That’s phenol, among other things, usually from burning Bakelite. I love the smell, there’s nothing quite like it. (Probably because I have the fond memories of a thousand little fires caused by ill-planned “experiments” associated with it).

See you tomorrow!