The first batch of chemical compound spice labels are now available from the Etsy site here! Note that this is a different…
The second in the ‘Everyday Compounds’ series looks at a chemical that the majority of us probably have sitting somewhere in our home. Aluminium chlorohydrate is the active ingredient in many antiperspirants, so how does it work – and why does a casual google search for it bring up a plethora of links with breast cancer?
In the wake of the recent announcement of a new £1 coin to be introduced in 2017, today’s post looks at some of the metals present in the coins of the United Kingdom. All of these coins are produced using alloys, or mixtures of metals; the main metals used include copper, nickel, zinc and iron. The composition of some of the coins has also changed since their original introduction, for reasons which are examined below.
When you think of hallucinogens, you probably wouldn’t expect to find one lurking, unbeknownst to you, in your kitchen spice rack. However, the hallucinogenic properties of nutmeg have been known for some time – historical records mention its use as a treatment for problems with the digestive system and the kidneys, and others from as far back as the 16th & 17th centuries comment on its narcotic effects. So, what are the chemical compounds that cause this?
The latest in the Colourful Chemistry series looks at the inorganic compounds that give many paints their colours. This shows a limited selection of the most common compounds, and there are many others; there are also a large range of organic based pigments, which aren’t discussed here (although could possibly be the topic for a future graphic).
A previous post looked at the colours of transition metals, and the origin of their colours – this graphic, on the other hand, looks at how transition metals (and some non-transition metals) can be identified by the precipitates they form with sodium hydroxide and ammonia solutions. I’m going to keep the explanation of the reasons for the colour changes and precipitates fairly simple here, but I’ve provided links at the bottom of the page if you want to read about them in more detail.