Antibiotic and bellows: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Antibiotic — works like — Sulfonamides. The first mass-market antibacterial drugs were synthetic sulfonamides; penicillin was discovered earlier (1928) but went into production later.
2. Step 2. Sulfonamides — evolved from — Synthetic dye. Prontosil was a red dye.
3. Step 3. Synthetic dye — is made of — Coal. Aniline from coal tar.
4. Step 4. Coal — is material for — Coke. Coke is baked coal.
5. Step 5. Coke — is used in — Blast furnace. The fuel and reducing agent is coke (formerly charcoal).
6. Step 6. Blast furnace — has part — Bellows. Air was blown in by bellows, later by blowers.

Open Evothings