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Each day, you probably use multiple things invented by a chemist you might not even realize.
Obviously, I am partial to chemists because I am one too, but they have truly shaped the world with their inventions, ideas, and products.
What I find really fascinating is many of these inventions were by pure accident or even intended for something else.
These are my favorite things invented by chemists:
Having a career in science can be fun and exciting. You might have a traditional chemistry job, or you might do something outside the box. The possibilities are truly endless.
Scientists and chemists have had unique jobs in society for centuries. Because of these ground breaking people, we have some of the coolest inventions that have changed the world!
One. Cocoa Powder
I am starting with this one because it is by far one of the coolest chemistry inventions. When I had to choose a topic for my senior research project in college, I chose chocolate because the chemistry was fascinating and highly intricate. Then I learned a chemist invented cocoa powder!
Dutch chemist Coenraad Johannes van Houten created dutched process cocoa powder by removing the cocoa butter and adding alkaline salts. Read more about cocoa powder here.
Two. Hydrogen Peroxide
If you own our book, this is a fact you know too. It was invented, well discovered, by French chemist Louis Jacques Thénard in 1818.
Three. Chemex Coffeemaker
In 1941, the first Chemex was made by a German chemist/inventor named Peter Schlumbohm. This didn’t necessarily change the world, but it sure did change the world of coffee : )
Four. Caffeine
While he didn’t invent it, German chemist Ferdinand Runge was the first to isolate caffeine in 1819. In 1821, more scientists identified caffeine including French chemist Pierre Jean Robiquet.
Five. Blue Jean Dye
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf von Baeyer, a German chemist, first synthesized indigo in the 1860s which is used to dye blue jeans. How cool is that?!
Six. Tecnu
This product has saved our lives more times than I can count. Tecnu is used to treat poison ivy and bug bites. If you have a bad case of poison ivy, this gives the best relief.
It was invented by chemist Dr. Robert Smith in the 1960s. He originally created it to remove radioactive dust from skin. A few years later, his wife discovered how well it worked for a cleanser from things like poison ivy!
Seven. Radioactivity
Speaking of radiation. One of my favorite women chemists is Marie Curie, one of the chemists responsible for discovering radioactivity. She and her husband, Pierre, worked together to discover unknown elements polonium and radium. In 1902, Marie isolated radium. She ultimately died of radium exposure, but what an impact she made on the world. This website has some great information on her.
By the way, a few months ago when it was International Women’s Day, I was WAY too excited snapchat (add me with username alexisroch) had a filter for Marie Curie. I totally saved it lol All my friends kept asking who she was!
Eight. First Vaccination
French chemist Louis Pasteur created the first vaccinations in the 1800s for rabies and anthrax. He used the rabies vaccine in the late 1880s to successfully vaccinate a boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog.
He also came up with the process of pasteurization to prevent bacteria growth in foods. Hence the name, pasteurize.
There are so many other fantastic items we could talk about, so there will be another post soon!
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Oh wow, I didn’t know any of this! I’m very excited that chocolate exists – haha. And blue jean dye! How cool. I don’t really use Snapchat but that’s awesome they had a Marie Curie filter. 🙂
-Lauren
Thank goodness for chocolate!!! I was way too excite they had that filter lol but it was really neat to see her recognized!
fascinating… thanks
It is very cool!
Ummm…..your friends didn’t know who Madam Curie was?
A few of my colleagues knew, but many of my friends didn’t! I set them straight lol 🙂
That’s MADAME CURIE to most of us!
That’s pretty cool! I’ve never thought about how those were invented or who did it.
It’s amazing the things we use all the time that were invented by a chemist! Definitely made a huge impact on the world!
This is great info… I was familiar with most of the items, BUT I never heard of Tecnu until this post. I wish had because years ago my dad had a very bad case of poison oak/ivy – so bad it was infected and left scars on his arms. Maybe Tecnu could have helped get the poison oils off sooner/better. Love how chemists work in our life – and I take them for granted.
Tecnu is a lifesaver for poison ivy! I had it so bad a few years back all over my body…I was even sick from it. Tecnu was the only relief I had!
Damn this was interesting, didn’t know any of this till now, for that I thank you
It really is so interesting!
Chemists, like yourself, come up with the most magnificent and often life changing “potions”. We use Hydrogen Peroxide for ourselves but also on Lola and it works wonders for her. Better than any expensive puppy treatment.
Peroxide is definitely one of my favorite tools in the home. It is such an amazing product! And it does work so well on dogs, so does baking soda! Much better than store-bought.
Amazing! You had me at caffeine of course 😀
Green Fashionista
Nothing beats caffeine!! 🙂
This is so cool! I didn’t know about most of these things and I love it!
It is amazing how many great things have been invented that we use so much today!
So many things to LOVE from this list. Marie Curie is the LADY! Love that women in science go back so far. Also – weird fun triva fact. Messina Hof winery in Bryan, Texas has a set of doors that once were Louis Pasteur’s! How neat is that?
I could go on and on about a lot of these topics. I did a research project in middle school (throw back!) on the smallpox vaccine and I learned so much about vaccines by doing that! They’re definitely one of the best chemist inventions.
What an awesome story!! How cool they belonged to Louis Pasteur! That is absolutely amazing. I have been to Bryan before, I need to check this out if I make it over there. And what a fun project for middle school 🙂
I think there will be a 9th cool thing that will change the world. You.
That is so sweet of you John! Thank you 🙂 I hope so!
I like your International Women’s Day photo. You look very scientific! lol!
I loved they had that filter on snapchat!!! It was awesome!
My other computer had tore up and I lost my copy of your book that I bought and I wonder what I can do
We can send you a new copy! Please email chemistrycachet@gmail.com with the email you ordered with and name. We will get one to you!