| Description | Compound/Element |
|---|
| The first antibiotic; it was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming. | |
| This simple compound has been used to preserve vegetables and meat for thousands of years. | |
| The key ingredient in gun powder, first used in the 13th century to fire canons. | |
| This is the most widely used drug in the world, with more than 100 billion tablets consumed annually. | |
| This compound is the active ingredient in soap. | |
| This element is a key component of semiconductors, computer chips, and circuits. | |
| This compound began to be widely used after 1839, when Charles Goodyear found a way to make it strong, durable and elastic. | |
| Used as early as 5000 BC, this compound is the principal ingredient in glass. | |
| By far the most popular plastic, this compound is used in grocery bags, artificial joints and plastic bottles. | |
| | Description | Compound/Element |
|---|
| This compound was used to eliminate malaria from Europe and North America, and more recently used in insecticides (though its use is limited due to safety concerns) | |
| This potent painkiller is used to help the chronically ill manage their pain. It is also the chemical precursor of the illicit drug heroin. | |
| 100 million tons of this compound are produced each year for fertilizer. Without it, an additional 2 billion people would be facing starvation. | |
| This element accounts for over 90% of all metal production; it is used in everything from cars to planes to fridges to computers. | |
| Worldwide, about 1 in 2 people regularly ingest this intoxicating compound. | |
| A highly corrosive and acidic chemical used in mining, steel production, chemical synthesis, and the making of plastics. | |
| As the principal component of the pill, this compound allowed women to separate sex from procreation, giving them unprecedented freedom and control over their lives. | |
| An important greenhouse gas. About 8 billion tons are produced each year from the consumption of fossil fuels. | |
|
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