Why has the physics forum got sexier topics than the chemistry forum?

Mr Andrew · « **on:** 23/02/2007 00:53:23 »

It has occured to me that the Physics forum has way more interesting threads than the Chemistry forum does [

]. 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! [

] [

]

paul.fr · « **Reply #1 on:** 23/02/2007 07:16:47 »

Quote from: Mr Andrew on 23/02/2007 00:53:23

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! [] [] []

Maybe you would like to start the topic off?

lightarrow · « **Reply #2 on:** 23/02/2007 10:11:14 »

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).

chris · « **Reply #3 on:** 23/02/2007 10:28:45 »

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

lightarrow · « **Reply #4 on:** 23/02/2007 17:37:54 »

Quote from: chris on 23/02/2007 10:28:45

That's neat. I actually did that experiment at school when I was about 14

You lucky!

Quote

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.

Mr Andrew · « **Reply #5 on:** 23/02/2007 20:22:07 »

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).

Mr Andrew · « **Reply #6 on:** 25/02/2007 04:31:29 »

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!

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #7 on:** 02/01/2009 07:27:30 »

We poured ethanol/methanol all over our hands and lit it on fire. [:0] [:0]
Luckily there was a bucketful of water nearby [

]
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(]

lightarrow · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/01/2009 00:28:09 »

What about this one:

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/01/2009 03:14:54 »

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 [ $:-\$ ]?

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/01/2009 09:48:58 »

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 [

]!

elegantlywasted · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/01/2009 03:24:38 »

Quote from: Chemistry4me on 04/01/2009 03:14:54

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

Bored chemist · « **Reply #12 on:** 06/01/2009 17:35:16 »

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

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #13 on:** 09/01/2009 09:11:36 »

What kind of name is that is that? "sexier" posts? What the heck?

lightarrow · « **Reply #14 on:** 09/01/2009 15:24:17 »

It's not even April 1. [

]

lightarrow · « **Reply #15 on:** 12/01/2009 23:07:27 »

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/

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #16 on:** 12/01/2009 23:16:18 »

Why don't they make a glowing pumpkin?

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #17 on:** 14/01/2009 00:23:33 »

I don't know why the physics forum gets millions of questions per day but the chemistry one gets nothing!

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #18 on:** 14/01/2009 00:40:22 »

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

Chemistry4me · « **Reply #19 on:** 15/01/2009 10:47:20 »

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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Why has the physics forum got sexier topics than the chemistry forum?

Mr Andrew (OP)

paul.fr

Mr Andrew (OP)

Mr Andrew (OP)

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