Thomas Edison, Chemist

ACS Chemistry for Life National Historic Chemical Landmark Thomas Edison, Chemist Thomas Edison National Historical Park National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior West Orange, New Jersey Thomas Edison developed an interest in chemistry at a young age, and applications of chemistry were a common theme in many of his inventions. Edison opened his West Orange, N.J., laboratory complex in 1887 as an expanded site for research and product development. The complex was among the most modern and well-equipped industrial research facilities in the world and included a chemical laboratory and library of chemical information to support Edison's expansive research, as well as chemical manufacturing operations and factories to produce Edison's inventions. Chemical developments originating from the West Orange laboratory included plastics and waxes for disc and cylinder phonograph records, nickel-iron alkaline electric storage batteries, and improvements to the manufacture of Portland cement. American Chemical Society June 6, 2014