Compound Interest
The first vinegars were accidents of oxidation, wine left out too long which turned sour. The word vinegar even derives from the Latin for ‘sour wine’. Today, varieties of vinegar range from balsamic to rice vinegar, produced on a commercial basis. This graphic takes a look at some of the chemical quirks of the different […]
Though there are hundreds of different types of cheese, their manufacture follows some common steps. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News, we take a look at the biochemical processes that turn milk into cheese. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
Baking soda and baking powder: two common ingredients in baked goods. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News, we take a look at what these leavening agents are made of, what the difference is between them, and how they help your cookies, muffins, and cakes rise. View the full graphic […]
Caffeine is a stimulant, and the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drug. Many of us need our morning coffee to be functional, but others prefer to avoid caffeine due to its effects on sleep, restlessness, or pregnancy. Handily, chemists have come up with several ways for us to enjoy coffee without the caffeine. Here, we […]
Yesterday, June 1, was World Milk Day. If you’re only learning this now and you’re disappointed at missing the opportunity to celebrate your love of all things milk, good news: there’s still time to learn about its chemistry! Chemistry can help answer a number of questions about milk, including why it’s white, and why […]
Pufferfish: kind of cute, right? Also kind of poisonous. They hit the news this week after a Japanese supermarket accidentally sold five packages of fugu (as it’s known in Japan) without removing the highly poisonous livers. This post looks at what makes them so poisonous.