The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Viana, Hélio Elael Bonini
Data de Publicação: 2012
Outros Autores: Porto, Paulo Alves
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Circumscribere
Texto Completo: https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/article/view/13364
Resumo: In the first decades of the 20th century, the chemical industry developed many new substances in response to technological demands. Produced on a large scale, these new chemicals were released into the environment, leading to some undesirable consequences. This paper presents the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr. (1889 – 1944), recognized as one of the greatest industrial chemists of his time for having solved two major technological problems: the improvement of gasoline quality, by developing tetraethyl lead as an antiknock additive; and the development of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as fluids for refrigerators. The study of Midgley’s trajectory shows how this mechanical engineer changed his research strategies from trial and error to the use the periodic table of elements as a guide. This case also suggests reflections on the different dimensions of risk are intrinsic to chemical activity.
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spelling The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.In the first decades of the 20th century, the chemical industry developed many new substances in response to technological demands. Produced on a large scale, these new chemicals were released into the environment, leading to some undesirable consequences. This paper presents the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr. (1889 – 1944), recognized as one of the greatest industrial chemists of his time for having solved two major technological problems: the improvement of gasoline quality, by developing tetraethyl lead as an antiknock additive; and the development of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as fluids for refrigerators. The study of Midgley’s trajectory shows how this mechanical engineer changed his research strategies from trial and error to the use the periodic table of elements as a guide. This case also suggests reflections on the different dimensions of risk are intrinsic to chemical activity.Centro Simão Mathias de Estudos em História da Ciência2012-12-21info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/article/view/13364Circumscribere International Journal for the History of Science; Vol. 12 (2012); 16-30Circumscribere International Journal for the History of Science; v. 12 (2012); 16-301980-7651reponame:Circumscribereinstname:Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP)instacron:PUC_SPenghttps://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/article/view/13364/10193Viana, Hélio Elael BoniniPorto, Paulo Alvesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess2017-10-25T00:28:18Zoai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/13364Revistahttps://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhcPRIhttps://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/oai||circumhc@pucsp.br1980-76511980-7651opendoar:2017-10-25T00:28:18Circumscribere - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP)false
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
title The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
spellingShingle The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
Viana, Hélio Elael Bonini
title_short The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
title_full The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
title_fullStr The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
title_full_unstemmed The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
title_sort The development of new substances in the first half of the 20th century: the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr.
author Viana, Hélio Elael Bonini
author_facet Viana, Hélio Elael Bonini
Porto, Paulo Alves
author_role author
author2 Porto, Paulo Alves
author2_role author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Viana, Hélio Elael Bonini
Porto, Paulo Alves
description In the first decades of the 20th century, the chemical industry developed many new substances in response to technological demands. Produced on a large scale, these new chemicals were released into the environment, leading to some undesirable consequences. This paper presents the case of Thomas Midgley, Jr. (1889 – 1944), recognized as one of the greatest industrial chemists of his time for having solved two major technological problems: the improvement of gasoline quality, by developing tetraethyl lead as an antiknock additive; and the development of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as fluids for refrigerators. The study of Midgley’s trajectory shows how this mechanical engineer changed his research strategies from trial and error to the use the periodic table of elements as a guide. This case also suggests reflections on the different dimensions of risk are intrinsic to chemical activity.
publishDate 2012
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2012-12-21
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
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dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/article/view/13364
url https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/article/view/13364
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/circumhc/article/view/13364/10193
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
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dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Centro Simão Mathias de Estudos em História da Ciência
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Centro Simão Mathias de Estudos em História da Ciência
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Circumscribere International Journal for the History of Science; Vol. 12 (2012); 16-30
Circumscribere International Journal for the History of Science; v. 12 (2012); 16-30
1980-7651
reponame:Circumscribere
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repository.name.fl_str_mv Circumscribere - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP)
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