Leo Baekeland

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/leo-baekeland

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 Leo Baekeland born?November 14, 1863
2. When did Leo Baekeland die?February 23, 1944 (age 80)
3. Where was Leo Baekeland born?Ghent, Belgium
4. What is Leo Baekeland known for?Inventing Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, and establishing the Bakelite Corporation
5. What is the career?Chemist, inventor, and industrialist
6. What is Bakelite and why is it special?Bakelite is the world’s first fully synthetic plastic. It is made from phenol and formaldehyde and is non‑conductive, heat‑resistant, and easy to mold.

Synthetic Polymer: A large molecule made by linking together smaller repeating units, created through chemical processes.
Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin: The chemical class of compounds to which Bakelite belongs, formed by the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde.
Thermosetting Plastic: A plastic that irreversibly hardens when heated, meaning it cannot be remelted or reshaped.
Industrial Chemistry: The branch of chemistry concerned with the application of chemical principles to industrial processes and manufacturing.