Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter and the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions. In this section, learn about everyday chemistry, from chlorine beach to helium, and even why chocolate turns gray.
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That's one seriously big number, and technically Amedeo Avogadro didn't even come up with it. So how did the Italian chemist make such an indelible (numerical) mark on the wonderful world of chemistry?
It's an odorless gas that's present in a variety of home products, cosmetics, car exhaust and even humans. But is it bad for us?
Bismuth is a naturally occurring element with many applications in our daily lives, but even more than that, it looks amazing when it cools!
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Denatured alcohol is useful for lots of things, but drinking definitely isn't one of them.
Diatomic elements are molecules composed of only two atoms, every time, always. There are only seven of them on the entire periodic table.
Electrons are attracted to some atoms more than others. If two atoms are of equal strength, the electrons will be equally shared. If one atom is stronger, the electrons will be pulled in that atom's direction.
The two different types of alcohol are commonly used in hand sanitizer today. But does one work better than the other?
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Don't know your fool's gold from the real deal? We'll tell you how to tell what's pyrite (aka fool's gold) and the good ol' 24 karat stuff you want.
By Mark Mancini
Tungsten's hardness and heat resistance make it a must for products like rocket engine nozzles, armor-piercing bullets and even the humble light bulb filament. In fact, pure tungsten boils at 10,030 F, the same as the photosphere of the sun.
By Dave Roos
You might wonder what phosphates do, but they are so intrinsic to our daily lives that the question really is: What don't phosphates do?
Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory just made history with einsteinium. They held a sample of the short-lived element long enough to measure some of its chemical properties.
By Dave Roos
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From soap to pharmaceutical products, glycerine has many applications.
Adrenochrome has been linked to schizophrenia and the LSD counterculture movement. Now QAnon conspiracy theorists say it's part of a child sex-trafficking cult. So what's the truth behind this chemical compound?
Hand warmers work through simple chemistry. A massively sped-up version of oxidation (the chemical reaction that makes rust) is to thank.
You don't need to be a fan of chemistry to appreciate isotopes. They affect geology and medicine, too.
By Mark Mancini
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Long-banned in the U.S., except for religious purposes, peyote is starting to be decriminalized in some cities. But is that a good thing for this endangered plant?
Making chemical compounds is a lot like dating. Some ions are naturally compatible; others hook up out of desperation.
Discovered in the early 1800s from a chunk of smuggled platinum ore, rhodium is the most valuable precious metal on the planet today, used mainly for keeping car emissions in check.
The main function of the Krebs cycle is to produce energy, stored and transported as ATP or GTP, to keep the human body up and running.
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Cadmium is a natural metal and the leading component in rechargeable batteries and solar cells. It is also highly toxic and heavily regulated.
Superacids are those with an acidity greater than sulfuric acid. So which is the most super of superacids and what exactly is it used for?
Why do most of us start relaxing as soon as we smell lavender or vanilla? Is it the memories they conjure up or is there a chemical reason?
By Dave Roos
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Borax, a popular addition to laundry detergents and slime recipes, is a natural ingredient that has been getting flack for possibly being harmful to children. But is this true?
By Alia Hoyt
You probably have a bottle of the stuff at your house. Have you ever seen it come in any color bottle besides brown?