专业英语第一单元Reading.docVIP

Evolution of Chemical Industry 进化化学工业 1.The Begingning of Modern Chemical Induatry The use of chemicals dates back to the ancient civilizations. For example, many chemicals were known and used by the ancient Egyptians. Evolution of an actual chemical industry is much more recent , and came about, as with many other industries, during the industrial revolution, which occurred in the U.K. around 1800 and rather later in other countries. Its initial development was stimulated by the demand of a few other industries for particular chemicals. 1.现代化学的Begingning Induatry 化学物质的使用可以追溯到古代文明。例如,许多化学物质是已知的和古埃及人使用的。实际的化学工业的发展是近得多,,,和许多其他行业一样,在英国工业革命期间,发生在1800年,后来在其他国家。其最初的发展刺激了一些其他行业的需求为特定的化学物质。 There was no organic chemicals side of the industry to speak of before 1856 since up to that time any organic materials were obtained from natural sources. In 1856, as has happened many times since (sometimes leading to major advances in the subject), some planned research work did not give the results expected. William Henry Perkin was trying to synthesize the antimalarial drug quinine, a naturally-occurring compound found in the bark of Cinchona trees. Using sodium dichromate he was attempting to oxidize aniline (phenylamine) sulphate to quinine, but insteadobtained a black precipitate. Rather than just rejecting this reaction which had obviously failed in its purpose, he extracted the precipitate and obtained a purple compound. It showed great promise as a dye and 憁auve? as it was named, becamed the first synthetic dyestuff. Rather ironically, the mauve was formed because Perkin抯 aniline was impure棗he had obtained it in the standard way by nitrating benzene and then reducing the product, but his benzene had contained significant amounts of toluene. Although only 18,and a student in London, he had the confidence to terminate his studies in order to manufacture mauve, which he did very successfully. The synthetic dyestuffs industry grew rapidly