12/27/03 - Mad Cow Disease - What You Need to Know
When it comes to Mad Cow Disease, it's difficult to separate fact from fiction and hard data from supposition. Part of the problem is political and economical, but a lot of it is based in biochemistry. The infectious agent that causes Mad Cow Disease isn't easy to characterize or destroy. Plus, is can be hard to sort through all of the different acronyms used for the scientific and medical terms. Here's a summary of what you need to know.
12/22/03 - Chemistry Concentration Game
Are you ready for some chemistry fun? Match the chemistry-related images to win the game in this version of the classic concentration game. Can you beat your time?
12/21/03 - Experimental Determination of Avogadro's Number
Did you know that Avogadro's number isn't a mathematically derived unit. The number of particles in a mole of a material is determined experimentally. This easy method uses electrochemistry to make the determination.
12/15/03 - How Does Stainless Steel Remove Odors?
Have you heard about the kitchen tip in which you rub your fingers across the blade of a stainless steel knife to remove odors from onions, garlic, and fish? You have now! Learn about the chemistry behind this interesting bit of cooking magic.
12/11/03 - Interpreting Statements in Research Papers
What does it mean when a scientists writes, "it can be shown" or "a trend is obvious"? Here are translations for these and other common phrases used in research papers.
12/07/03 - Melting Snow & Ice with Salt
You know salt is sprinkled on roads and sidewalks to melt ice and prevent it from refreezing, but do you know how it works? Learn about freezing point depression and colligative properties and find out about the pros and cons of several de-icers.
12/04/03 - How to Grow a Charcoal Crystal Garden
Make delicate, colorful crystals! This is a great classic crystal-growing project. You use charcoal briquettes (or other porous materials), ammonia, salt, bluing, and food coloring to grow a sort of crystal garden. The components of the garden are toxic, so adult supervision is recommended.
11/30/03 - Ideal Gas Law - Worked Chemistry Problems
Here are some worked examples of Ideal Gas Law chemistry problems plus links to formulas for working gas problems and related chemistry tools and resources.
11/28/03 - Why Are Babies Born with Blue Eyes?
Do you know the answer? It's a matter of chemistry as much as biology. I've included other factoids about eye color, including some that may surprise you.
11/20/03 - Amino Acid Hangman Game
This hangman game makes a great quiz to make sure you know how to spell the names of the amino acids and to reinforce your knowledge of whether they are polar, nonpolar, or have charged side chains.
11/19/03 - Is There Really a Chemistry of Love?
Sweaty palms and a pounding heart don't just happen! It takes complex biochemistry to give you the symptoms of being in love. And lust. And security. Chemistry may even play a role in falling out-of-love.
11/10/03 - Molecules with Strange Names
Here's information about molecules and other chemical species that have silly or downright strange names.
11/09/03 - Pressure Conversions - Worked Problems
Here are some examples of conversions between units of pressure (kPa, atm, mm Hg).
10/29/03 - What Materials Glow Under a Black Light?
Black lights emit ultraviolet radiation, giving certain materials an eerie glow. Which materials? You can do a little experimental research or you can check out this list!
10/26/03 - Flame Retardant People
Learn about the health effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), a common flame retardant, and efforts to ban further use of certain forms of the chemical.
10/22/03 - Sample Problems - Calorimetry & Heat Flow
There's a worked example for coffee cup calorimetry and another for bomb calorimetry, with links to review calorimetry and thermochemistry concepts.
10/20/03 - What Is the Most Abundant Element?
The elemental composition of the universe and the earth's crust are very different! How different? Take a look...
10/20/03 - What Are the Elements in the Human Body?
Do you know the chemical composition of the human body? Here's the list of elements, given in percentage according to weight.
10/19/03 - Chemistry Hangman Game - Common Chemicals
This hangman chemistry game is based on the articles and information available throughout the About Chemistry website. I'll give you a hint and also the link to the article that has the answer. Don't worry, the link to the article will open in a new window so it won't interrupt your game.
10/15/03 - Can a Tattoo React with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
Is a burning reaction between a tattoo and magnetic resonance imaging (an MRI) based in fact or is it an urban legend? Here's the answer!
10/12/03 - Hair Color Chemistry
Over 75% of women and a growing percentage of men color their hair. Learn about what happens when you bleach hair or use natural, temporary, or permanent haircolor.
10/05/03 - Measurement of Heat Flow & Enthalpy Change - Coffee Cup and Bomb Calorimetry
A calorimeter is a device used to measure the quantity of heat flow in a chemical reaction. Learn about two of the most common types of calorimeters, the coffee cup calorimeter and the bomb calorimeter, and find out how to use them to calculate heat flow and enthalpy change.
09/22/03 - Chemical Names of Common Substances
Do you need to know the chemical name for aspirin or baking soda? This is the list for you! Look up the common name of a substance to see its chemical or scientific name.
09/19/03 - Sample Problems - Bond Energies & Enthalpies
This is a step-by-step worked problem to help you calculate bond energies and enthalpies for gaseous reactions.
