Celluloid, one of the first synthetic plastics, was invented in the 1860s and gained widespread use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is primarily composed of cellulose nitrate, derived from plant fibers, and camphor, an organic compound that acts as a plasticizer. Cellulose nitrate, the main component, is formed by replacing hydroxyl groups in cellulose with nitro groups, giving it flammable properties. The addition of camphor makes celluloid flexible and durable, forming a lightwei