For a very long time, humans were contented with resources extracted from natural raw materials, but our modern consumer society demands solutions to fulfill its new needs. Synthetic molecules were born out of advanced analysis and research.
 

If you remove on a candy sugar and water, its two essential components, what does it remains to him? Food additives.
These molecules of various natures (synthetic or natural) are present in the majority of the foodstuffs, with very varied functions: conservatives, agents of texture, acidifiers, dyes or flavors.

Almost 200 years old, chemistry is now a mature science. Yet it still continues to expand and prosper as shown by new disciplines (combinatorial chemistry…). In addition, chemical synthesis has never been as productive as today: it creates about 14 000 new molecules per week, adding to the 25 million preexisting ones.