The commercial plastic Bakelite was invented and marketed in 1907 by whom?

The commercial plastic Bakelite was invented and marketed in 1907 by whom?

• A. Thomas Edison
• B. Leo H. Baekland
• C. Nikola Tesla
• D. George Westinghouse

Answer: (B)

Bakelite was the first fully synthetic plastic, created by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a chemist who in 1907 patented and began marketing it. He developed a phenol-formaldehyde resin that could be molded and hardened with heat, making a durable material suitable for electrical insulators, consumer goods, and many other uses. The option spelling “Leo H. Baekland” refers to the same person, just with a inverted spelling, and matches the correct inventor who commercialized Bakelite. The other names are known for work in electricity, not for inventing Bakelite.

Bakelite was the first fully synthetic plastic, created by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a chemist who in 1907 patented and began marketing it. He developed a phenol-formaldehyde resin that could be molded and hardened with heat, making a durable material suitable for electrical insulators, consumer goods, and many other uses. The option spelling “Leo H. Baekland” refers to the same person, just with a inverted spelling, and matches the correct inventor who commercialized Bakelite. The other names are known for work in electricity, not for inventing Bakelite.