Question

The first man-made fibre is:

• A. Nylon
• B. Rayon
• C. Polyester
• D. Silk

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Nylon

The explanation for the correct option:

• The first man-made fibre is Nylon.
• Nylon is a well-known synthetic polymer (derived from the Greek words ’poly’ meaning ’many’ and ’meros’ meaning ’parts’).
• It was invented by Wallace Carothers and first brought to the public’s attention in October 1938.
• The nylon molecules are very flexible with only weak forces.

The explanation for the incorrect options:

• Rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric made from natural sources such as wood and agriculture-related products.
• Polyester fabric (polyethylene terephthalate) is a synthetic woven material known for being durable and relatively inexpensive to produce.
• Silk is a very smooth, light fabric that's usually made of fibres from silkworm cocoons.
• Rayon, polyester and silk were not discovered first.

Therefore, the correct option is (A),i.e., the first man-made fibre is Nylon.