天然橡胶

一七三六年，在秘鲁工作的法国博物学家查理·马里·德·拉康达明给巴黎科学院寄来第一个略呈黑色的树脂样品。印第安人用这种树脂产品制造各种日常生活用品。

一七三八年，拉康达明第一次记载了金鸡纳树的情况。

一七五一年，拉康达明使命结束后回到法国，将一篇题为《橡胶树－－关于新近在圭亚那发现的弹性树脂的研究》的学术论文呈送巴黎科学院。在印第安语中，橡胶树意为“流泪的树。”一八七六年，英国人罗伯特·克里斯和Ｈ．Ａ魏克亨对橡胶树进行了试验。此后，印度支那、马来西亚、锡兰分别引进橡胶树。自二十世纪初以来，这些国家陆续建立了许多大橡胶种植园。

天然橡胶本身是富有弹性的物质，它是胶乳凝固而成的。胶乳是从橡胶树流出的浆液。橡胶树原产于南美，属大戟科植物。胶乳经过加工处理变成聚异戊二烯。这种聚合物外表像软树胶，具有可塑性，可以擦掉纸上的铅笔字。

酚醛塑料

一九零九年，比利时化学家亨德里克·贝克兰发明了具有热固性的酚醛塑料－－电木。这种以发明家的姓名命名的合成树脂是用甲酚或甲醛加催化剂热凝聚而成的。

从一八九九年起，移居美国的贝克兰还对乳胶和照相冲晒纸作了富有成果的研究。

有机化学

有机化学又叫碳化学。地球上所有的有机化合物都含有碳，可以说碳是生物的起源。碳形成了生物，而生物又可以产生碳（或碳氢化合物），如植物通过光合作用可以制造出碳。生物机体经过化石作用形成煤和石油（碳氢化合物）。

〔宝升学院塑胶再循环研究中心将从即日起摘录发表一系列与有机化学相关的短文以促进社会对塑胶再循环的认识〕

Logo of the Basong alliance

Statutes of Akadémi Basong (submitted to the Prime Minister on 19 December 2003)

AKADÉMI BASONG

Statutes

1. The name of the academy is Akadémi Basong.

2. The objects for which the academy is founded are:
(a) the study of small business practices;
(b) the purification of business languages;
(c) the recommendation of economic policies to the Government; and
(d) the application of artificial intelligence in small businesses.

3. The academy shall serve as an advisory forum and, accordingly, is a non-profit institution. The academy shall not acquire any property or involve in any financial activity.

4. The academicians shall be limited to twenty-six natural persons. There shall be:
(a) at least one seat for academician from each of the fields of (i)philosophy, (ii)mathematics, (iii)economics, (iv)neuroscience, (v)psychology, (vi)computer engineering, (vii)cybernetics, (viii)linguistics and (ix)education; and
(b) two seats for academicians from Basong Malaysia to be named from time to time by Basong Malaysia.

5. The academy shall have three of the academicians holding the offices of Director, Chancellor and Perpetual Secretary. The office of Chancellor shall be held by an academician from Basong Malaysia.

6. Subject to these Statutes, the Chancellor may, in accordance with the advice of the academicians, the Director or the Perpetual Secretary, elect any person to be an academician, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing academicians.

7. The seat of academician shall become vacant if the academician:
(a) is deceased;
(b) becomes of unsound mind; or
(c) resigns his seat.

8. Subject to these Statutes, the academicians may elect one of their number to be:
(a) an officeholder, to fill a vacancy; or
(b) the Director or Chancellor, as a replacement of the existing Director or Chancellor.

9. The offices of Director, Chancellor or Perpetual Secretary shall become vacant if the officeholder:
(a) ceased to be an academician; or
(b) resigns his office.

10. The academicians may regulate their meetings and workshops as they think fit.

11. The Director shall preside at the meetings of the academy. The Chancellor shall have the custody of the archives and the seal of the academy. The Perpetual Secretary shall prepare the work and keep the records of the academy.

12. The officeholders shall not receive or be entitled to receive any benefit from the academy.