I was around 14 when I discovered some of the darker sides of chemistry.
This was the 60’s and my school like most others had a uniform; grey
trousers, black blazer and a white shirt. This was the age of the nylon
shirt; drip-dry and not requiring ironing – ideal for the busy
housewife. Then, one afternoon in the chemistry lesson, we were meant to
heat dilute (2N) hydrochloric acid in a beaker using a Bunsen burner.
We worked in two’s and, just as the acid reached boiling temperature, I
accidentally nudged the tripod supporting the beaker and the acid
spilled hitting my chest. Because I was leaning forward, the hot acid
did not reach my body but instead dissolved the parts of the nylon shirt
– leaving a central strip which had been protected by my school tie. No
injury, some surprise and then thinking what I would tell my parents; I
cannot recall what they said.
Nylon in clothing has all but disappeared from the shops. Then, it was
everywhere and in more or less everything. I can clearly remember
sliding into my bed with nylon sheets wearing nylon pajamas which
produced amazing electrical flashes. Nylon shirts are now very retro and
you can still buy them if you want to. Nylon is a polyamide which means that it is destroyed by warm acid (hydrolysed) as I had found out.
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