Tag: poisoning

Chemical Warfare – Novichok nerve agents June 2018

What are Novichok agents? What we do (and don’t) know about them

Chemical Warfare – Novichok nerve agents June 2018
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Over the past week, UK news has been dominated by the mysterious poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Today, this culminated in the British government revealing that it is believed a type of Novichok agent was the chemical culprit behind the attempted murder. This graphic takes a look at what we do know about Novichok agents and what is still unclear.

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The Chemistry of Rhubarb

Why Shouldn’t You Eat Rhubarb Leaves? – The Chemistry of Rhubarb

The Chemistry of Rhubarb
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Field-grown rhubarb will shortly be coming into season and appearing in supermarkets in the UK, so it seems like a good time to take a look at the chemistry behind this odd-looking vegetable. It’s mostly used in pies and desserts, but it’s only the stalks of the plant that we eat – and there’s a reason for that. This graphic takes a look at why, and also looks at the chemical compounds that contribute to the colour and the laxative effect of rhubarb.

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White Arsenic

The Chemistry of Poisons – White Arsenic

Poison Chemistry - White Arsenic
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This graphic is the first in a planned series looking at the effects and chemistry of a range of different poisons. As such, it seemed appropriate to start with one of the most well known poisons: arsenic. Arsenic has been used by poisoners for centuries, primarily in the form of white arsenic, or arsenic trioxide, which this graphic focuses on.

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