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Book 26, Question 23 · Video

How did spilled wine lead to cellophane?

Video · 1:45 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 26

Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenberger was in a restaurant in 1900 when someone spilled wine on a tablecloth. He thought, wouldn't it be useful to have cloth that wouldn't soak up spills? He tried coating cloth, and the coating peeled off as a thin, clear sheet. That sheet was cellophane. It was used for wrapping candy, food, and gifts.

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How did spilled wine lead to cellophane?

The Big Idea

Oops! Someone spilled a drink on a tablecloth. A chemist watching had a big idea. It led to cellophane!

The Spill

Step one: The Spill. Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenberger was in a restaurant in 1900 when someone spilled a drink on a tablecloth. The cloth soaked it up.

An Idea

Step two: An Idea. He thought it would be useful to have cloth that would not soak up spills. He tried coating cloth.

Clear Sheet

Step three: Clear Sheet. The coating peeled off as a thin, clear sheet. That sheet was cellophane, used for wrapping candy, food, and gifts.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! It's made from plants. You can see through it. It wraps candy. It wraps gifts.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The name comes from words meaning cellulose and clear. See what's inside. A failure became a product. Made from plants.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Wrap a small object in clear plastic wrap. Look at it from all sides. Can you see what's inside? Why is it good to see inside a package? Name three things sold in clear wrap.

Outro

A spill on a tablecloth led to cellophane when Jacques Brandenberger tried a spill-proof coating that peeled off as a thin, clear sheet. It wrapped candy, food, and gifts. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

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