Identify gun cotton and indicate why it was important in the ...

[nevelica]

Identify gun cotton and indicate why it was important in the development of modern plastics.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is the first modern plastic that was synthesized with a specific set of properties in mind, who sponsored the work, and when was it done?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[nathang24]

Answer to Question 1

Gun cotton or nitrocellulose is made from cellulose fibers that have been treated with nitric acid. This material was, perhaps, the first plastic since it was a substantial modification of a natural polymer and it could be shaped or formed. It served as the model for several other acid-derived cellulose products such as rayon, celluloid and cellophane.

Answer to Question 2

One correct answer would be Celluloid, invented by James Wesley Hyatt in 1868 . However, the first truly synthetic plastic that was made to a specification was nylon. The work was sponsored by the DuPont Company

[nevelica]

Both answers were spot on, thank you once again

[nathang24]

Great! Please up vote