The problem with synthetic fats
2025-08-21 12:06 by Ian
This post is written for anyone who wants to asses the risks of synthetic fats for themselves, but doesn't have the biochemistry knowledge.
Silver chloride
2024-08-12 20:01 by Ian
When the weather co-operates, my boys are of such an age where chemistry is starting to become teachable. This year, I showed them one of my favorite ion-exchange reactions.
2022.11.14: Fluorine, fluoride, and food-grade coatings
2022-11-14 09:27 by Ian
This post is aimed at short-circuiting FUD surrounding the word "Fluorine", and that of its ion ("Fluoride").
Room temperature CO2 reduction catalyst
2019-04-05 11:18 by Ian
I've seen lots of media outlets in Normistan touting a new liquid phase catalyst as a means of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequestering it as coal. But my chemistry background tells me that this is never going to be useful for that purpose.
What follows is my rough analysis of the energy requirements of running this reaction with the given catalyst.
Making a simple perfume (orange blossom)
2011-03-27 17:45 by Ian
Every spring, the citrus trees in Arizona bloom. The blossoms are the origin of a volatile oil that smells wonderful. I decided to make a simple perfume from them. The girlfriend will approve.
Nitrogen Triiodide
2010-06-29 07:42 by Ian
There are certain things that I would rather do for the first time on purpose, so I can avoid ever doing them on accident. Making nitrogen triiodide is one of these things.
Inorganic flowers
2010-06-29 07:00 by Ian
I cleaned out my waste beakers last week. There was one in particular that had evaporated to dryness and left some interesting crystals.
Mercury (II) Chloride
2010-05-22 21:35 by Ian
In an endeavor to make higher-purity mercury, I decided to reduce it from one of its salts. But first, I have to make and purify the salt.
Preparation of bromoethane
2010-03-06 17:37 by Ian
This is an attempt to brominate a primary alcohol.
Comment [2]
Concentrating sulfuric acid (chiller test)
2010-03-06 14:34 by Ian
In my area, sulfuric acid can be purchased at automotive supply stores as battery electrolyte. This acid is useful as it stands, but higher concentrations are frequently required. This is the operation that was used to test the thermal load capacity of the coolant chiller.