Alexander Parkes

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alexander-parkes

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Alexander Parkes born?December 29, 1813
2. Where was Alexander Parkes born?Birmingham, England
3. What is Alexander Parkes known for?Inventing Parkesine, the first man-made plastic
4. Who invented Alexander Parkes?Parkesine, patented in 1862
5. What is the career?Metallurgist and inventor
6. What is the material basis?Derived from cellulose

Polymer: A large molecule composed of repeating structural units, often made from smaller molecules.
Nitrocellulose: A highly flammable compound produced by treating cellulose with nitric and sulfuric acids.
Mass Production: The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, often using assembly lines.
Materials Science: An interdisciplinary field that studies the properties and applications of materials.