Category: Fun with Science

The magazine Chemical & Engineering News recently ran a feature article on the rapidly changing gemstone market and the role that synthetic diamonds and other gemstones are playing.

http://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i5/synthesized-precious-gems-passing-natural.html

The chemistry of hydrangea color change can be understood in the context of acid/base chemistry. Specifically inorganic chemistry explains the shift from red/pink to blue blooming flowers under acidic soil conditions. Do you know what is key to changing the color of these flowers?

Prof. Henry Schreiber and his group studied and reported on hydrangea color change chemistry. To find out the key to hydrangea color change chemistry read the article in American Scientist which summarizes Schreiber’s findings: Curious Chemistry Guides Hydrangea Colors

For more details and specifics to the research see the references noted in the articles bibliography.

Please click “read more” and rate this resource: Read More →

Here’s another way to look at writing electron configurations and thinking of atomic structure of atoms:

Atoms’ Motel Model

http://fyeahchemistrycat.tumblr.com/post/13793803678/the-motel-deep-in-the-depths-of-the-atomic-realm

Please click “read more” and rate this resource: Read More →

When has each element appeared in a comic book? I thought you’d never ask…

http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/

Nocera’s Artificial Leaf on BBC’s Horizons

Professor Daniel Nocera at Harvard University featured in BBC show Horzions with Adam Shaw.