Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Mr Andrew on 23/02/2007 00:53:23
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It has occured to me that the Physics forum has way more interesting threads than the Chemistry forum does [:o]. How can that be?...all they talk about is gravity waves and alien invasions! I've decided to start a competition to find the most creative and wacky topics us chemistry guys/gals can come up with. Hopefully we will get some interesting discussions out of this. Good luck and may the most inventive chemist win! [;D] [;D] [;D]
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I've decided to start a competition to find the most creative and wacky topics us chemistry guys/gals can come up with. Hopefully we will get some interesting discussions out of this. Good luck and may the most inventive chemist win! [;D] [;D] [;D]
Maybe you would like to start the topic off?
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Do you like this?
http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/jcesoft/cca/cca0/MOVIES/MAGCO2.html
Advise: if you find a fire with magnesium, don't try to extinguish it with a CO2 fire-extinguisher (and not even with water, it would be the same).
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That's neat. I actually did that experiment at school when I was about 14, although we used glass jars pre-filled with gaseous CO2 and dropped in a strip of pre-ignited magnesium.
On the side of the glass afterwards were several spots of carbon.
I believe the magnesium rips the oxygen off the carbon and burns in it producing MgO and C.
Nice experiment.
Chris
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That's neat. I actually did that experiment at school when I was about 14
You lucky!On the side of the glass afterwards were several spots of carbon.
I believe the magnesium rips the oxygen off the carbon and burns in it producing MgO and C.
Exactly.
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I've got one.
It doesn't involve explosions or fires but it is pretty neat all the same. You can make a glue from milk that is extremely strong. You acidify the milk (any acid works but vinegar is traditional) and filter out the curds (proteins). Then you add a little bit of Ca(OH)2 solution and let it sit. The Ca ions serve to cross link the proteins an the OH's neutralize the acid. It's a neat experiment to run at home (all though it makes a mess and is quite smelly).
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That's a pretty neat experiment lightarrow, I think you hold first place right now, though there's not much competition. Come on people, we need more ideas!
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We poured ethanol/methanol all over our hands and lit it on fire. [:0] [:0]
Luckily there was a bucketful of water nearby [:P]
Not recommended for anybody to do at school. The teacher actually did stop us doing it after 2 times because someone's hands got a bit burnt out... [xx(]
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What about this one:
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Whatever was going on there with all the colour changes, it was pretty cool. I can't read the comments but the first four all had the word fake.
Like: Ce n'est pas un fake,
Then: Pas un fake,
Then: C'est un fake.
Then: C'est pas un fake,
For all I know, 'fake' could mean 'cool' or 'blue' or 'yellow' or 'amazing' or it could just mean 'fake'.
Anybody know what it means and what language is it [:-\]?
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I can't quite remember the details but I think the chemistry teacher had some hot wax and he poured something into it and it made a huge ball of flame which rose up to the ceiling and afterwards the ceiling had a black patch there [:o]!
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Whatever was going on there with all the colour changes, it was pretty cool. I can't read the comments but the first four all had the word fake.
Like: Ce n'est pas un fake,
Then: Pas un fake,
Then: C'est un fake.
Then: C'est pas un fake,
For all I know, 'fake' could mean 'cool' or 'blue' or 'yellow' or 'amazing' or it could just mean 'fake'.
Anybody know what it means and what language is it [:-\]?
The comments are mainly people arguing over if that reaction was actually happening, and fake meant fake.
Pretty cool stuff tho, its the Briggs-Rauscher reaction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs-Rauscher_reaction
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It might be fake but it's probably easier to set up an oscillating reaction that to fake it (or it is for me, my chemistry is a lot better than by image manipulation.)
This reaction is similar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belousov-Zhabotinsky_reaction
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What kind of name is that is that? "sexier" posts? What the heck?
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It's not even April 1. [???]
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This experiment is very nice, but I don't know if it really works, so take it with some skepticism:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/757249/make_a_glowing_tomato/
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Why don't they make a glowing pumpkin?
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I don't know why the physics forum gets millions of questions per day but the chemistry one gets nothing!
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Look at these fugures, I can hardly believe it, chemistry ranks 8th!
Just Chat! 67414
General Science 22592
Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology 21338
Physiology & Medicine 19403
New Theories 9287
Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution 7705
That CAN'T be true ! 7358
Chemistry 6878
Complementary Medicine 4728
Geology & Palaeontology 3968
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It appears that Mr Andrew was correct, the physics forum (and just about every other one!!!) is way way more interesting than the chemistry one...*sigh* *feeling depressed*.
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Don't be despondent, you Chemists.
Chemistry is every bit as interesting as Physics - it's not so 'popular' because it has very few Concrete Level ideas in it, compared with Physics. It's not so approachable because there isn't the equivalent to Moonshots, Black Holes and the Twins Paradox.
The average quality of discussion is far more 'scientific' on the Chemistry forum. Quality not quantity!
Respect to you!
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Well, actually I think its just me. It does get a bit boring at times [|)], sitting here and watching every other forum firing on all four cylinders [:-\] [:-\]
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Which chemical has a smell that really turns you on? Sexy enough for you. I used to sniff my lab coat because it had that perfect mix of chemical smells that reminded me of chemistry sets from my childhood. Copper sulphate has a smell that evokes most memories.
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because from physics we find the answers for chemistry. [:)]
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How dare you!
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because from physics we find the answers for chemistry. [:)]
Ok, would you tell me how physics explains the fact PbI2 is water insoluble?
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How very dare you indeed, with knobs on.
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because from physics we find the answers for chemistry. [:)]
Go solve the three body problem!
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because from physics we find the answers for chemistry. [:)]
That's a bit like saying the person who made the keyboard is as great as the Author who wrote the book.
The level of intellect involved in the sexyest Chemistry is every bit as high as in your Cosmology.
Being exclusive never did no one no harm.
This particular forum has a refreshingly low number of loony posts!
Robot - blood aside, that is.
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I recall my reply, Math is the base for Physics, in consequence for chemistry also. [:P]
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Oh, now you're just being crazy!
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Oh, now you're just being crazy!
It was more polite than the first one. [;D]
I really retract my comment, excuse me for my lack of knowledge. [:I]
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It's alright erickejah, I'm sure that you were trying to spark up a debate between the physicist and chemists huh? [;)][:)]
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If it hadn't been for Maths, they wouldn't have even started on the Periodic Table. THEN where would have all those Chemists been? Fire Water Earth etc
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What has maths ever done for the Periodic Table?
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What has maths ever done for the Periodic Table?
Is that like in The Life of Brian when Reg says:
"What have the Romans ever done for us?"
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When they wrote the original periodic table the maths involved was the ability to count to three, and they could probably got by without thet too.
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If it hadn't been for Maths, they wouldn't have even started on the Periodic Table. THEN where would have all those Chemists been? Fire Water Earth etc
What? Even if they didn't have a Periodic Table, it doesn't stop them from discovering new elements!!
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because from physics we find the answers for chemistry. [:)]
That's a bit like saying the person who made the keyboard is as great as the Author who wrote the book.
The level of intellect involved in the sexyest Chemistry is every bit as high as in your Cosmology.
Being exclusive never did no one no harm.
This particular forum has a refreshingly low number of loony posts!
Robot - blood aside, that is.
I'm sorry but the robot blood thread was meant to be a sexed up chemistry topic for discussion. I was hoping that people would think outside the box but obviously concrete thinking is more important here. The robot blood was an example. I was hoping that people could suggest unique ways of using Mercury. There were some good suggestions to do with its density but some people just got bogged down with the one example.
Science is supposed to be about asking questions, however weird or wacky they originally sound. Lots of inventors and creative thinkers are poo hooed by concrete thinkers. So call out the inquisition and execute Me why don't you.
By the way. I think Chemistry can't do without maths but physics can't do without it more. We may still have discovered elements without maths but then what would we do to explain them and manipulate them.
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Well said Make it Lady!
You can argue that every subject needs maths...
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Thanks Chem4 I was beginning to think I was a loony!
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But really, I've got no more ideas on what we could possibly do with mercury, even if non-toxic.
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I won't flog the dead horse anymore then.
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I won't flog the dead horse anymore then.
Make it Lady, you shouldn't get discouraged by what someone can say, and also I don't think that "loony posts" were referred to yours (on the other hand, the thread's title suggests to people (included me) loony posts... [:)]).
About the fact physics can explain anything, even chemistry, it's just a... loony statement, and I'm sure that who said it, has now well understood it.
Furthermore, physics can in some cases be more interesting to discuss *in a forum* because it allows almost everyone to say even loony things, because it's quite difficult to show them that it's wrong. But with chemistry is different because I can't say, e.g., that solid aluminum and solid iodine don't react, I can post pictures or part of a book, or a video from youtube where it's shown they do react; you can't even "free" your fantasy: either they do it or they don't.
However, even if chemistry could be a bit less interesting than physics, to discuss in a forum, it's certainly much more interesting to do practically, in the reality (at least for me [:)]).
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That's why we should use our imaginations from time to time. Physics seems to involve the imagined becoming real by using a mathematical explanation. Chemistry is more concrete but it doesn't mean we can't dream a little.
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What about the other forums? Do they involve imagination?
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Which other forums? I thought naked scientists was the only one!
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Oh yeah! Sorry, I meant boards [:I]
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Yes most do but in chemistry it has been lacking hence the lack of sexiness.
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Spice it up with some tobasco sauce?
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I always drove the Head of Math mad with the statement:
Physics gives us an excuse to have Math
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Prime your search engine with "Rutherford physics stamp collecting" and watch the feathers fly!
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Eh?
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Quote Details: Ernest Rutherford: All science is either... - The ...All science is either physics or stamp collecting. Ernest Rutherford, in J. B. Birks "Rutherford at Manchester" (1962) British chemist & physicist (1871 ...
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Just a few :)
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Why do I need more Rutherford stamps?
I've got enough of Rutherford at my house already! [;)]
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Haven't you ever seen a $100 NZ note? [:D]
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Yep, have seen the NZ$100 note. It's worth about two flat rocks hereabouts. Little wonder Earnest left for sterling, and appears notably earnest. [;)]
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Enough of that!
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I agree [:)]
But before I go here's a little something connecting your Rutherford with my Oliphant. (Not my own work.)
"Australian physicist Mark Oliphant worked with Ernest Rutherford, in their co-discovery of new forms of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) and helium (helion, the stable helium-3 nucleus). He oversaw the development of the cavity magnetron, worked on the team that developed microwave radar, then was assigned to the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb. He later became an outspoken activist against militarization of the atom, spoke out against the Vietnam war, and publicly supported American nuclear scientist Robert Oppenheimer when he was savaged by McCarthyism. Oliphant was on the founding faculty of Australian National University, the first President of the Australian Academy of Science, and served five years as the Governor of the state of South Australia."
Perhaps there's a little chemistry there. By the way if Oliphant should ever feature on the Oz $100 note it would be worth a lot more than two flat rocks...possibly as much as five!
Cya
Been fun and interesting [;)]
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cos physics is more sexy than other subjects hahhaha ....
and all most some of awesome sexy questions posted by me SBC and other cool ppl
- ScientificBoysClub
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Sheesh! [::)]
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Do you EVER SEARCH the forum before posting new topics?!?!