Question

Which among the following was first man made plastic?
1. Bakelite
2. Polyethene
3. Parkesine
4. None of these

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Parkesine

The correct answer is Parkesine.

• The first man-made plastic is Parkesine and it is named after its inventor Alexander Parkes. It was revealed at the Great International Exhibition in London in 1862.
• Parkesine is the first trademark for man-made plastic.
• Alexander Parkes invented Parkesine in England in 1855 and sold it as a replacement for ivory. It was used to make little items like jewellery, buttons, fountain pens, and brush handles.
• Parkesine was created from a portion of a plant's cell wall (cellulose), and it was translucent, moldable, and held its shape when cooled.
• It was Initially promoted as an inexpensive replacement for rubber.

 

• Bakelite was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde.
• Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer with a changeable crystalline structure and, depending on the kind, a wide variety of uses.