Famous American Chemists

If you ever had a vaccine shot or have used polythene or have taken in penicillin to get rid of that sore throat, thank the chemists from around the world, for had it not been for them, the world indeed wouldn’t have been the same that it is today. Chemistry is, by far, the most overlooked branch of science but has nonetheless contributed for much of our necessities and luxuries. And while talking about chemists, the contribution made by their American counterparts is noteworthy. Had it not been for Ira Remsen the world wouldn’t have been as sweet as it is today! Quite literally, for he is credited with the discovery of the first artificial sweetener, saccharin! Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a Belgian-American, is often known as the father of the plastic industry. The nylon that you frequently use today was a baby of the American chemist Wallace Carothers study. Imagine analytical chemistry without Izaak Kolthoff. This Dutch-American chemist was known for developing the cold process of rubber synthesis. Niacin, the new vitamin found in meat and yeast was a brainchild of American biochemist Conrad Arnold Elvejhem. These are just the handful of the numerous American chemists who have through their intensive study and experiments, made the world a better place to live in. The section below throws light on the life and works of some of the renowned American chemists.