Let’s Celebrate Mario Molina

Mario Molina wears the pin he won for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

During the month of September, we celebrate Hispanic American heritage and culture. Mario Molina was born in Mexico. As a boy, he played with toy chemistry sets. When he grew up, Mario studied chemical engineering. He earned degrees from schools in the United States, Germany, and Mexico.  Mario Molina became a world-famous chemist.

Chemicals from aerosol cans hurt the Earth.

Mario Molina studied chemicals. He discovered bad chemicals in the air. These chemicals came from aerosol cans. The chemicals were destroying part of the upper atmosphere called the ozone layer. The ozone layer is a protective shield around Earth. Molina used his research to teach people about the effects of dangerous chemicals on the environment.  He helped lawmakers make laws to protect the environment. The laws led to a worldwide ban of the harmful chemicals in aerosol cans.  Chemists had to develop safer alternatives. Mario Molina followed his childhood passion. He wanted to help people. He used his research on chemicals to keep the air and environment cleaner.

What Do You Think? How can you turn your passion into reality?

Reading Response Click on this link to respond to your reading. Print out the response page or upload it to your classroom site.

And Then What Happened? 

Photo Credit: (t)Louis MONIER/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images, (b(c) Ingram Publishing/SuperStock