What has chemistry ever done for you?

Chemistry has fundamentally shaped our global civilisation.

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Chemistry is a signficant contributor to the wealth, prosperity and health of society. Over the past 5,000 years, chemistry has fundamentally shaped our global civilisation.

Period Discovery Impact Category
5000 BC Glass Architecture Design and construction
5000-3500 BC Copper Metal tools Design and construction
1200 BC Concrete Urbanisation Design and construction
1856 Dyes Colour Design and construction
1938 Nylon Clothing Design and construction
1200 BC Gunpowder Fireworks Energy
1200 BC Gunpowder Guns/cannons Energy
1800 Electric battery Energy storage Energy
1896 Radioactivity Nuclear energy Energy
1864 Pasteurisation Safe dairy Food and agriculture
1874 Refrigeration Food storage Food and agriculture
1909 Ammonia Fertiliser Food and agriculture
1939 DDT/Glyphosate Pest/herbicides Food and agriculture
1500-1990 Anaesthetic Surgery Health
1796 Vaccines Medicine Health
1896 Radioactivity Radiotherapy Health
1896 Radioactivity X-ray imaging Health
1928 Antibiotics Medicine Health
1953 DNA structure Genetics Health
5000 BC Glass Cups and vessels Household
5000 BC Glass Jewellery Household
1907 Plastics Household goods Household
1200 BC Bitumen Roads Transport
1800 Electric battery Modern vehicles Transport
1843 Vulcanised rubber Tyres/polymers Transport
1985 New carbon form Aircraft Transport