Scurvy was a serious disease that 18th-century sailors often came down with on their long-distance voyages overseas. The cause of scurvy was not known at the time, and the cure was not always accepted.
A famous British explorer named James Cook decided to put his crew on a strict diet plan that he hoped might prevent his sailors from getting the illness. One food Captain Cook required his sailors to eat was sauerkraut. Interestingly, none of his sailors ever died from scurvy.
Today, we know that scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C. Although Captain Cook did not realize that sauerkraut had this important nutrient, his plan helped keep his sailors healthy. (5 points)
a. Who was the scientist in the above story? (1 point)
b. What "experiment" did he do? (1 point)
c. What "chemicals" were used in his experiment? (1 point)
d. How did this "scientist" use his knowledge to serve others? (1 point)
e. What does this story tell you about where chemicals can be found and who can be a scientist? (1 point)
