Bakelite plastic after synthesis. Footage of a newly synthesised block of the plastic Bakelite being emptied from a beaker. For the synthesis, see clip K004/5019. This plastic is produced in an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde to produce a phenol formaldehyde resin. Bakelite was first produced by Leo Baekeland in 1907. It was the first synthetic thermosetting plastic ever made. Here, the plastic can still be moulded. For heat being applied to turn the plastic permanently hard (thermosetting), see K004/4985.