Science & Nature

Gold is a precious, conductive, and pliable metal that retains a stable value better than many commodities. Its chemical properties make it useful for the manufacture of computers parts,...

Placing a raw whole egg in vinegar is a classic experiment that teaches a fundamental principle of chemistry---the interaction between an acid and a base. Creating a "rubber egg" is a fun and safe...

Calcium, symbol Ca, is a soft metal whose atomic number is 20 on the periodic table. It is an "alkaline earth" metal with a valence of +2. This means it loses two electrons when forming...

Potassium chloride, a table salt substitute, has the simple chemical formula KCl. It consists of one potassium atom combined with one chlorine atom. It might seem easy to react potassium and...

Limestone is a mineral primarily composed of CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). This compound is a white chalky substance with poor solubility in water. When acid is added, the limestone is broken down...

Ionic silver is silver as an ion. The most common type of ionic silver is silver nitrate. Silver nitrate can be easily produced from pure silver and nitric acid. Ionic silver has been hyped as a...

A hydrogen ion concentration in a solution results from the addition of an acid. Strong acids give a higher concentration of hydrogen ions than weak acids, and it is possible to calculate the...

Melting point analysis provides easy identification of solid substances, such as benzoic acid, in the lab. Using a melting point device such as a Mel-Temp, students can observe the sharp melting...

Potassium, an alkali metal (atomic number 19 on the periodic table of the elements), is a soft and very reactive metal, which gives up one electron to form compounds. It reacts violently with...

Caprylic acid is commonly used as a surfactant, emulsifier, and perfuming agent in cosmetics, food, nutritional supplements, and cleaning products. While some moderate risk may be associated with...

Polyglutamic acid is technically a polymer of a polymer. It is made up of a polymerized form of amino acid found in most proteins, which is then combined with an ionized form of glutamate, another...

In chemistry, acid-base titration is the combination of an acid solution with a base solution until one fully neutralizes the other. The one that is fully neutralized is of unknown concentration....

The equation for pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of water and other substances by measuring the hydrogen ion concentration. Distilled water theoretically has a pH of 7, or neutral, in a...

Fossils are a record of Earth's history imprinted within rocks. Fossils form when a creature dies and its remains are then buried or preserved by environmental conditions. Over time, the creature...

Gastric glands line the inside of the stomach and secrete 2 to 3 qt. of gastric juices into the stomach daily. Each secretion contributes to digestion and maintenance of the stomach. Gastric juice...

Combining chemicals and producing something else can be fascinating and fun. Some experiments have a more dramatic result than mixing ammonia and sulphuric acid, but with a little time, you can...

Buffers are solutions that resist change in pH. They are important in chemical and biological systems. The capacity of a buffer, B, is defined as the ability of buffer to resist pH change when...

Oxidation-reduction titration experiments are perhaps not as easy to find as acid-base titration experiments for classroom demonstrations. They also may not be as easy for the student to grasp. ...

Thanks to modern technology, the motorcycle owner now has the option to buy a gel cell battery to no longer have the risk of spilled acid in an accident or during maintenance. That may not be the...

Glycolic acid (α-hydroxyacetic acid) has the chemical structure HO-CH₂-COOH. Alpha-hydroxyacetic acid is used in skin care products. It reduces wrinkles and improves other skin...

Nearly all areas of the world have trees damaged from air pollution. The effects of pollution include leaf discoloration, damaged roots, weakened trees, tree death and damage to soil. Pollution...

A great way to learn about acids and bases is to play around with the stuff you already have in your kitchen. You can make an effective acid-base indicator out of boiled red cabbage juice. By...

In chemistry class, sooner or later you'll have to learn to identify different types of chemical reactions. Why not get a head start and be ready to ace the exam? This article will give you a good...

The chemical formula of salicylic acid is C6H4(OH)COOH. Salicylic acid has a benzene ring. The hydroxyl group (-OH) and COOH hang off adjacent ring carbons. A benzene ring is hexagonal, with six...

The purpose of performing an assay is to determine the percentage of purity of a given amount of the boric acid. To perform the assay, the equipment you will need includes a burette (approximately...

Lactic acid, or 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (chemical formula CH₃CH(OH)COOH), was first isolated from soured milk by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1780. Starting in 1881, calcium lactate was prepared...

In chemistry, acid-base titration is used to determine the concentration of a solution. The process of titrating utilizes a solution of unknown concentration, which is either an acid or a base. ...

Because plants have different soil needs, the environment can be adapted to create the best possible growing conditions. One way to change the properties of soil is by using acid peat moss.

Battery acid, for example sulfuric acid, is hard to clean up and can eat through surfaces and cause other irreparable damage. So, what are you supposed to do when that inevitable leak happens?...

Benzoic acid is one of the most important compounds used in the manufacturing of artificial flavorings and preservatives. It is also used to synthesize a large number of other chemicals, including...

Several factors affect the life of rechargeable batteries, but the most significant is correct battery charging. Other factors include the type and quality of the battery, its discharge rate and...

Water is essential for plant growth. Without water, plants cannot grow at all, and with less than the optimal amount of water, plants become wilted and stressed. When available water returns to a...

An acid (for example, hydrochloric acid, HCl) is a substance that releases or donates the hydrogen ion (H+), while a base (for example, sodium hydroxide, NaOH) is a hydrogen ion acceptor. The pH...

Two of the battery types that you are most familiar with, perhaps without even knowing it, are the lead acid battery and the lithium ion battery. Most cars in America carry a lead acid battery...

An acid-base reaction is called a "neutralization reaction." It consists of the transfer of a hydroxide ion (H+) from the acid to the base. They are therefore usually "displacement reactions,"...

The number of chemical reactions known to scientists is in the millions, or maybe even the tens of millions. Many can be placed in five categories.

Acidic water can have certain unhealthy affects on humans, mostly through absorption into the lungs where the acidic compounds can cause damage. There are also some visibility concerns caused by...

The question is a familiar one: Is a particular piece of jewelry or other art object made of real gold or is it fake? The person selling the piece asserts that it is gold. The buyer is not so...

The human body is made up of millions of cells that work to maintain the body's overall system and function. Each cell, in turn, has its own set of processes designed to carry out necessary cell...

Sodium bicarbonate may be synthesized by reacting sodium hydroxide with carbonic acid. The reaction is written most simply: 1. NaOH + H₂CO₃ ' NaHCO₃ + H₂O The image...

Hydrogen is a nonmetal gaseous element in the first group and first period of the periodic table of the elements with the chemical symbol H. The lightest and most plentiful of the elements,...

Linolenic acid, strictly speaking, is not one acid but two. When the name is generically used, the one usually meant is alpha-linolenic acid (Figure 1). Found in many foods and food-based...

Citric acid is one of the most common types of natural acids in the world. Because it is found in many fruits and nearly every digestive system, citric acid can be added to foods and cleaners...

Gold is one of the most valuable substances in the world. Though associated with jewelry and coins, the precious metal is also a component of computers and other electronics equipment. Once no...

Sodium stearoyl lactylate is the sodium salt of an long-chained carboxylic acid containing two ester linkages. SSL has the chemical formula C₂₄H₄₄O₆Na, and has...

Triglycerides are fatty acid molecules that circulate in the blood. Triglycerides are carried to adipose tissue where they are stored and later returned to cells where they are used for energy....

Sodium acetate trihydrate is a common and inexpensive chemical with a wide range of uses in food, in industry and in the laboratory. It is used in pickling, in tanning, as a buffer, and as a major...

Acid rain is caused by certain types of pollution that release carbon, sulfur dioxide and similar particles into the air. These particles mix with water vapor and give it an acidic quality that...

Tartaric acid, also called 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioc acid, crystallizes from solution as transparent, monoclinic prisms. It is present in many fruits, such as grapes, tamarinds, bananas, pineapples...

Fumaric acid, trans-2-butenedioic acid (also called trans-1, 2-Ethylene-dicarboxylic acid), is a white powder. Fumaric acid was first isolated from the plant Fumaria officinalis (Common Fumitory...