Sir William Henry Perkin - Cable Street, London, UK
N 51° 30.654 W 000° 03.202
30U E 704464 N 5710758
The plaque is on the wall of a block of flats at the junction of Cable Street and Sutton Street in the east end of London.
Waymark Code: WMDMND
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/01/2012
Views: 3
The blue plaque, that is in good condition, reads:
On the edge:
"Stepney Historical Trust"
In the centre:
"Sir William / Henry Perkin F.R.S. / discovered the first aniline dyestuff, /
March 1856, / while working in his home laboratory / on this site and went on to
/ found science-based industry. / 1838 - 1907".
"Nearly everything on the planet can be described in
terms of chemicals. Technological advances are fueled by them, and new
discoveries are made because of them. These technological breakthroughs are
often applied to the world at large, and a good example of this is the discovery
of aniline dyes. Aniline dyes are considered synthetic organic compounds, a
carbon-based chemical that is altered by another substance, or synthesized.
Mauvine, the first aniline dye, was discovered by 18-year-old William Henry
Perkin. He was trying to create a synthetic version of the anti-malaria drug
quinine on a challenge given by his professor in 1856. Perkin was trying to find
a solution to the task, and oxidized the chemical aniline, a coal-tar byproduct,
with the chemical potassium dichromate. This reaction caused a thick black
substance to form in Perkin's flask, which is a common symptom of a failed
experiment in organic chemistry. Later, when Perkin was cleaning his flask, he
found that the substance dissolved in alcohol to form a purple liquid, which was
later found to take to textiles extremely well, thus leading to the advent of
the aniline dye industry.
Aniline dye products today come in a variety of colors, ranging from soft hues
to bright primary colors. Aniline dye is used in a variety of fields, but is
most commonly found in the leather and woodworking industries. Aniline wood dyes
are often hailed as having an advantage over wood stains for their clarity and
saturation. Aniline dye does not leave pigmentation on the surface of the wood,
and is purported to leave the finished product less “muddy” in appearance. Not
only does aniline dye stain leave no pigmentation behind, but it penetrates all
parts of the wood equally, unlike stains which absorb more color into parts of
the surface that are more porous.
Similarly, aniline dyed leather does not lose any structure or grain pattern,
and is often considered to be of a higher quality than other types of dyed
leather. There are several different processes in which leather can be aniline
dyed, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Aniline dyed hides may
vary widely in quality. Many people are beginning to dye their own hides using
commercially available dye solutions, which are readily available in most
leather supply stores or craft shops.
Commercially available aniline dyes are available in the form of powders that
can be dissolved in either water, alcohol or oil. Each type of aniline dye has
its own safety precautions, mixing procedures and application processes, and it
is recommended that users follow the manufacturer's instructions when using
aniline dye for any projects. Aniline dye is considered toxic in some forms, and
proper safety precautions should be observed if undertaking a project utilizing
aniline dye."
Source Wise Geek
website.