Invention made due to Necessity

Synthetic Rubber

Purpose

To explore the relationship between societal needs and technological development through examining the history and making of synthetic rubber.

Context

This lesson is part of the Energy in a High-Tech World Project, which examines the science behind energy. Energy in a High-Tech World is developed by AAAS and funded by the American Petroleum Institute. For more lessons, activities, and interactives that take a closer look at the science behind energy, be sure to check out the Energy in a High-Tech World Project page.

It was the Greek philosopher, Plato, who said that “necessity is the mother of invention.” Social and economic forces strongly influence which technologies will be developed and used. The events leading up to World War II accelerated the discovery, production, and wide distribution of synthetic rubber, in large part due to the cooperation between nations, academics, scientists, government, and commerce, which combined respective expertise to launch a program that replaced natural rubber with synthetic rubber and helped the United States win the war.

In this lesson, students will explore how events in history and scientific discoveries fuel technological advances and how technology is instrumental in creating new scientific knowledge. According to the National Science Education Standards, learning experiences associated with science and technology should include examples of technological achievement in which science has played a part and examples where technological advances contributed directly to scientific progress. (National Science Education Standards.) This lesson provides such an example in the case of the development of synthetic rubber.

When teaching this lesson, it is important to be aware of some student misconceptions surrounding science and technology. For one thing, students tend not to make a distinction between the two areas. Students often have a positive perception of science, as when they associate it with medical research. For technology, however, students often associate it with environmental problems. In addition, students seem to understand that science influences technology, but they do not readily accept that technology also influences science. (National Science Education Standards.)

To fully understand this lesson, students should have some understanding and knowledge about the events that led to WW II, particularly in relation to the development of synthetic rubber. They should have a basic understanding of how and why natural rubber was discovered, how it was used, and how its use led to the invention of synthetic rubber and its impact on the war effort.

It also would be helpful if before doing this lesson students understood that the physical properties of substances can be explained in terms of chemical bonds and intermolecular forces. They also should have an understanding of polymerization as a type of organic chemical reaction that joins small molecules to form large macromolecules. Students should understand that organic compounds contain carbon atoms that bond to one another in chains, rings, and networks to form a variety of structures.