9781422277584

The Nobel Prize is a presti- gious honor that is awarded annually to people who have made major contributions in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economics, and for world peace. The prizes were established by scientist and industrialist Alfred Nobel, who wished to use his wealth to benefit humanity.

Words to Understand

cellulose— an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that forms the solid framework of plants. It is sometimes fibrous. If cotton and other forms of nearly pure cellulose are treated with nitric acid, a very highly explosive product, guncotton, is formed. Greek Fire— a mixture of inflammable materials, the principal one probably being naphtha, used by the Byzantines in the defense of their empire. high explosives— term usually used for the various nitro-compounds, as distinct from gunpowder. naphtha— an inflammable hydrocarbon. saltpeter— another name for potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), a white crystalline salt used in the making of gunpowder. sulfur— pale yellow, non-metallic element used in the making of gunpowder.