About Eduard Simon
Lived 1789 – 1856 (aged 66). Eduard Simon was a German chemist, engineer and pharmacist.
Johann Eduard Simon (18 September 1789 – 19 June 1856) was an apothecary in Berlin, Germany.
Johann Eduard Simon accidentally discovered polystyrene in 1839. Simon distilled an oily substance from storax, the resin of the sweetgum tree, Liquidambar orientalis, which he named "styrol". Several days later he found that the styrol had thickened, presumably due to polymerisation, into a jelly which he dubbed styrol oxide ("Stryroloxyd").
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Eduard Simon?
German chemist
When was Eduard Simon born?
Eduard Simon was born on 18 September 1789 in Berlin.
When did Eduard Simon die?
Eduard Simon died on 19 June 1856 in Berlin.
What was Eduard Simon's occupation?
Eduard Simon was a chemist, engineer and pharmacist.
What nationality was Eduard Simon?
Eduard Simon was German.
Sources & further reading
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APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eduard Simon. https://biography.guide/eduard-simon/
MLA: "Eduard Simon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eduard-simon/.
Chicago: "Eduard Simon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eduard-simon/.
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