Dr. Thomas Midgley Jr..
The New Scientist called him a “one-man environmental disaster”.
Thomas Midgley Jr.
| Dr. Thomas Midgley Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Died | November 2, 1944 (aged 55) Worthington, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Known for | Leaded petrol CFCs |
Who created leaded gas?
Thomas Midgley, Jr.
Thomas Midgley, Jr. (May 18, 1889 – November 2, 1944), an American chemist, developed the tetraethyl lead (TEL) additive for gasoline and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and held over a hundred patents.
Who decided lead in gasoline?
Thomas Midgley
Thomas Midgley (18 May 1889 – 2 November 1944), was an American inventor. His two most famous inventions are both now banned because they are dangerous for the world environment: the use of lead in petrol (gasoline) and the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigerators.
When was leaded gas created?
Companies began creating lead additives in 1921 to fix knocking or pinging in engines that could damage them and waste gasoline. The leaded product was highly promoted and popular, even though there were cleaner alternatives— based on alcohol, for example.
Why was leaded gasoline invented?
Tetraethyl lead was added to gasoline beginning in 1922 to help engines run better.Exposure can cause severe neurological damage, something that was known about the entire time that leaded gasoline was in use. Nonetheless, leaded gasoline was the standard in the United States for decades.
Who invented the chlorofluorocarbon?
Thomas Midgley Jr.
“Thomas Midgley Jr. and the Invention of Chlorofluorocarbon Refrigerants” (PDF).
Who invented lead CFC and petrol?
Thomas Midgley, Jr.
Among those who contributed some of history’s most dangerous innovations was a bespectacled chemist from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Thomas Midgley, Jr. introduced the world to both leaded gasoline and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), now considered two of the world’s most harmful chemical compounds.
Who discovered leaded gasoline was harmful?
geochemist Clair Patterson
Caltech geochemist Clair Patterson (1922–1995) helped galvanize the environmental movement 50 years ago when he announced that highly toxic lead could be found essentially everywhere on Earth, including in our own bodies—and that very little of it was due to natural causes.
Who invented ethanol?
Ethanol was first prepared synthetically in 1826, through the independent efforts of Henry Hennel in Great Britain and S.G. Sérullas in France. Michael Faraday prepared ethanol by the acid-catalysed hydration of ethylene in 1828, in a process similar to that used for industrial ethanol synthesis today.
Why did they call it ethyl gasoline?
Ethyl leaded gasoline is the confusing brand name choice for tetra ethyl lead (TEL), which was an anti-knock (octane boosting) gasoline additive discovered by General Motors researchers on Dec. 9, 1921 and introduced commercially in Ohio on Feb. 2,1923.
Who invented crude oil?
In 1859, at Titusville, Penn., Col. Edwin Drake drilled the first successful well through rock and produced crude oil. What some called “Drake’s Folly” was the birth of the modern petroleum industry.
When did the US stop using leaded gas?
January 1, 1996
Unleaded gasoline was introduced in the 1970s when health problems from lead became apparent. In the United States, leaded gasoline for use in on-road vehicles was completely phased out as of January 1, 1996. Most other countries have also stopped using leaded gasoline in vehicles.
Do any countries still use leaded gasoline?
The reasons behind the ban of leaded gasoline are the health effects of lead and its polluting effect on the environment. The majority of the countries have embraced the ban, but some countries still use leaded gasoline. These countries are Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, and Afghanistan.
Why do old cars need leaded gas?
The lead in gasoline prevented engine knock in older cars, and lead buildup on the valve seats effectively created a cushion onto which the valves closed. Without this, the valves may eventually get damaged.
Why is lead in paint?
Lead is added to paint to accelerate drying, increase durability, maintain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion. It is one of the main health and environmental hazards associated with paint.
Why does lead make us sick?
Lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. At high levels of exposure lead attacks the brain and central nervous system, causing coma, convulsions and even death. Children who survive severe lead poisoning may be left with intellectual disability and behavioural disorders.
Who invented ozone hole?
In 1985 Jonathan Shanklin was a junior researcher at BAS when he discovered a hole in the invisible shield that protects us from solar radiation. We catch up with him to learn about his work and how it has made a difference. It’s 36 years since scientists first discovered the hole in the ozone layer.
Who invented ozone layer?
The Ozone Layer was discovered by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson in 1913. Why is Ozone Layer important? Ozone protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun.
What do you mean by chlorofluorocarbon?
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), any of several organic compounds composed of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine. When CFCs also contain hydrogen in place of one or more chlorines, they are called hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs.
Who invented refrigerant?
The first form of artificial refrigeration was invented by William Cullen, a Scottish scientist. Cullen showed how the rapid heating of liquid to a gas can result in cooling. This is the principle behind refrigeration that still remains today.
Who discovered the age of the Earth?
Clair Cameron Patterson
| Clair Cameron Patterson | |
|---|---|
| Known for | Uranium–lead dating, age of the Earth, lead contamination |
| Spouse(s) | Lorna “Laurie” Patterson ( m. 1944) |
| Children | 4 (Susan, Claire, Charles, Cameron) |
| Awards | Tyler Prize (1995) V. M. Goldschmidt Award (1980) J. Lawrence Smith Medal (1973) |
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