Occasionally, experimental scientists pursuing a well-planned investigation run into a surprise. A totally unexpected result pops up. Oops! Does that mean the experiment went wrong? Maybe, but "Chance favors the prepared mind," said the famous chemist, Louis Pasteur. The following three great discoveries in chemistry—all involving surprises—were made because the scientists involved knew how to look beyond their expectations, run with their results, and make a brilliant leap into the future. These three discoveries have reshaped the entire field of chemistry.
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