Question

The process of vulcanization was introduced by _____
A.Charles Goodyear
B.Kolbe
C.Wohler
D.Zeigher

Answer 1

Vulcanization is a process in which rubber is being hardened on reacting with sulphur. The natural rubber is being created with Sulphur, apart from natural rubber some synthetic rubbers are also treated with Sulphur to vulcanize. In simpler terms Vulcanization is the heating of rubber with sulphur. It was discovered in 1839. The scientist who discovered it was an Engineer.

Complete step by step solution:
The process of vulcanization was discovered by Charles Goodyear in the year 1839. This was a remarkable invention because natural rubber is not fit for use in various purposes.

The correct option is A.

Additional information:
Vulcanization is done to improve the quality of the rubber to increase the tensile strength and to increase the resistance towards swelling and abrasion. Rubber is also vulcanized so that the elasticity of rubber remains intact over a higher range of temperature.
Charles Goodyear also discovered certain other substances such as accelerator antioxidants and extenders can be added during the vulcanization to make the process more efficient and effective.
An accelerator is a substance that increases the rate of vulcanization so that vulcanization can occur more rapidly or at lower temperature. Carbon or Zinc oxide is also added as extenders to improve the quality of the rubber. Antioxidants, as the name suggests, are used to prevent oxidation of rubber that are caused by oxygen in air or other chemicals.

Note: Some synthetic rubbers are not vulcanized by the sulphur but they give similar products when we react them with metal oxide organic peroxides. Charles Goodyear was an American scientist and was a self taught chemist. He also got a patent for the discovery of vulcanization of rubber.