William Henry Perkin - IELTS Reading Answers

William Henry Perkin - IELTS Reading Passage

William Henry Perkin

On 12 March 1838, William Henry Perkin was born in London, England.

Curiosity drives the early Perkins to the arts, sciences, photography and engineering till he gets into the laboratory of his late grandfather. It developed his enthusiasm towards chemistry.

As a student at the City of London School, Perkin was wholly involved in the study of chemistry. Perkins' talent and devotion to the subject of chemistry are recognized by his teacher. He attended Michal Faraday's lectures at the Royal Institution by the encouragement of Thomas Hall. His speeches developed his interest towards chemistry further. Later, at the age of 15, 1853, Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry.

German chemist August Wilhelm Hofmann was head at the Royal college of chemistry during the time of Perkin’s enrolment. Hofmann identified the perkin's scientific gifts, and he became the youngest assistant of Hofmann. After some time, Perkin got his fame and both through his scientific breakthrough.

Quinine is the only feasible medical treatment for malaria at that time. The drug is extracted from the cinchona tree's bark, which is situated in South America. The demand for the drug increased by 1856. Hofmann made some comments about the synthetic substitute for quinine and his star pupil takes up as a challenge.

In 1856, during his vacation, he was trying to manufacture quinine from aniline (inexpensive and readily available coal tar waste) in his laboratory at the top of his family’s house. Out of his best efforts, he didn't get the quinine, but some mysterious dark sludge. Fortunately, Perkin's scientific training and nature made him explore the substance further. At the various stages of the experimental process, he added the potassium dichromate and alcohol into the aniline, which produced a deep purple solution. Louis Pasteur’s words ‘chance favours only the prepared mind’, proved to be true; he saw the unexpected potential of his find.

Usually, the textile dye was made from natural resources such as plants and animal excretions. Few of these, like the glandular mucus of snails, were both expensive and difficult to get. At that time, the rich can only afford the purple colour, which is extracted from the snail as this is so costly. Moreover, the tendency of the natural dyes is found to be muddy in hue and fade quickly. Perkin’s discovery was against this backdrop.

Perkin understood that his purple solution could be used for colour fabric, which is the world’s first synthetic dye. He patented it as he realised the importance of his finding. One of the fascinating reactions of Perkin quickly found that the new dye has commercial possibilities.

Originally, Perkin named his dye Tyrian Purple. Later, it became commonly known as mauve. By asking advice to the Scottish dye works owner Robert Pullar, he understood that the dye manufacturing would be worthwhile if the colour remained fast (i.e. would not fade) and if it is relatively low cost. His mentor Hofmann objected to him in a fierce manner, so he left the college and gave birth to the modern chemical industry.

Perkin set up a factory, near London, with the help of his father and brother. Coal tar is cheap and plentiful as this is an almost limitless by-product of London’s street lighting. The dye works started producing the world’s first synthetically dyed material in 1857. The Empress Eugenie of France, boosted the commercial part of the company as the new colour flattered her. Mauve becomes a necessary shade for all the fashionable ladies in that country.

In public, England’s Queen Victoria appears wearing a mauve gown which brought rage in England. The dye was both fast and bold, and the public demand was increased. Perkin returns to the drawing board.

Though Perkin's first discovery itself brought him fortune and achievements, the chemist continued his research. He developed and introduced several other dyes including aniline red (1859) and aniline black (1863), and Perkin’s green in the late 1860s. Perkin’s synthetic dye discoveries resulted in more than just decorative purposes. The dyes also become important to medical research in many ways. For example, researchers are able to identify such bacilli as tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax, which were invisible microbes and bacteria before. Artificial dyes continue to play an important role even today. Its current use in the search for a vaccine against malaria, which could have pleased the Perkin.

Also Check: 60+ IELTS Essay Topics 2024: IELTS Writing Task 2

William Henry Perkin - Question and Answer

Questions 1 - 5

Complete the flowchart below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS  from the passage for each answer.

Read IELTS Reading Flow Chart Completion to expand your knowledge about flow chart completion question type

Answer 1: London

Explanation 1: According to teh 1st line of the passage, On 12 March 1838, William Henry Perkin was born in London, England.

Answer 2: Chemistry

Explanation 2: According to the 1st line of paragraph 3, As a student at the City of London School, Perkin was wholly involved in the study of chemistry.

Answer 3: Purple

Explanation 3: According to the 4th and 5th line of passage 6, At the various stages of the experimental process, he added the potassium dichromate and alcohol into the aniline, which produced a deep purple solution.

Answer 4: Tyrian Purple

Explanation 4: According to the 1st line of paragraph 9, Originally, Perkin named his dye Tyrian Purple.

Answer 5: Green

Explanation 5: According to the 2nd line of the last paragraph, He developed and introduced several other dyes including aniline red (1859) and aniline black (1863) and Perkin’s green in the late 1860s.

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Questions 6 - 10

Choose the correct letter, a, b, c or d, as you answer each question.

6. Whose lectures Perkin attended at the Royal Institution?

1. August Wilhelm Hofmann

2. Thomas Hall

3. Michal Faraday

4. Niels Bohr

7. What is the age when Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry?

1. 15

2. 18

3. 20

4. 14

8. Where is the quinine extracted from?

1. Tree’s bark

2. Herbs

3. Cinchona tree’s bark

4. Dye

9. How the Tyrian Purple became commonly known as?

1. Purple

2. Perkin’s Purple

3. Aniline

4. Mauve

10. Where did Perkin set up a factory?

1. London

2. Bristol

3. Leicester 

4. Norwich

Answer 6: c. Michal Faraday

Explanation 6: According to the 2nd line of the 3rd paragraph, He attended Michal Faraday's lectures at the Royal Institution by the encouragement of Thomas Hall.

Answer 7: a. 15

Explanation 7: According to the 4th and 5th line of paragraph 3rd, Later, at the age of 15, 1853, Perkin attended the Royal College of Chemistry.

Answer 8: c. Cinchona Tree’s bark

Explanation 8: According to the 1st and 2nd line of paragraph 5, Quinine is the only feasible medical treatment for malaria at that time. The drug is extracted from the cinchona tree's bark, which is situated in South America.

Answer 9: d. Mauve

Explanation 9: According to the 1st line of paragraph 9. Originally, Perkin named his dye Tyrian Purple. Later, it became commonly known as mauve.

Answer 10: a. London

Explanation 10: According to teh 1st line of paragraph 10, Perkin set up a factory, near London, with the help of his father and brother.

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Questions 11 - 14

Answer the questions below.

Write THREE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER  from the passage for each answer.

11. Which subject that Perkin is interested in?

12. When the quinine drug demand increased?

13. Who was head at the Royal College of Chemist when Perkin enrolled?

14. Who appeared in the public wearing a mauve gown which brought rage in England?

Answer 11: Chemistry

Explanation 11:  According to the 1st and 2nd line of paragraph 3, As a student at the City of London School, Perkin was wholly involved in the study of chemistry. Perkins' talent and devotion to the subject of chemistry are recognised by his teacher.

Answer 12: 1856

Explanation 12: According to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd line of paragraph 5, Quinine is the only feasible medical treatment for malaria at that time. The drug is extracted from the cinchona tree's bark, which is situated in South America. The demand for the drug increased by 1856.

Answer 13: August Wilhelm Hofmann

Explanation 13:  According to the 1st line of paragraph 4, German chemist August Wilhelm Hofmann was head at the Royal college of chemistry during the time of Perkin’s enrolment.

Answer 14: England’s Queen Victoria

Explanation 14: According to the 1st line of paragraph 11, In public, England’s Queen Victoria appears wearing a mauve gown which brought rage in England.

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Conclusion

The path to success on the IELTS is complex, and one of the most important components is reading comprehension. By delving into various subjects, such as "William Henry Perkin" and many others, candidates might establish a strong basis for tackling the reading portion. IELTS candidates can use the tactics and advice provided in this blog as a compass to help them reach their target scores. Let this serve as inspiration to keep practising since, in the world of language acquisition, tenacity is the key to unmatched success.

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