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Chemistry Hall – From Cutting-Edge Research Highlights to Educational Resources

Chemistry Hall From Cutting-Edge Research Highlights to Home Chemistry Experiments
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Everyday Life Chemistry

Let us introduce to you the most awesome everyday life chemistry examples. There is a lot of chemistry in daily life to be discovered! Find explanations to things that you encouter every day.

Neurotoxin vs. Cytotoxin: The Difference between Spider Venoms

August 27, 2020 By C. Hall 1 Comment

Spiders are not aggressive creatures.  Believe it or not, they are as afraid of human beings as we are to them.

However, there are instances when they can cause nuisances in the household, interfering with our daily activities. They might start to cause stress and pain. 

The only time that spiders show their aggressive nature is when they are provoked or agitated.  This usually happens when we attempt to get rid of them. They retaliate in return. When they do this, they resort to biting and secrete spider venom into the skin. 

If you enjoyed our last journey covering the differences between bee and wasp venom, join us for a new venomous journey, and the biochemistry behind it!

Are Spider Venoms Usually Very Dangerous?

The spider venom is a mix of a lot of chemicals. Usually, spider bites are not as deadly as people think.  The composition of their venom is often only enough to paralyze small animals.

So the short answer is no, besides some species that can be very dangerous or even deadly, in most cases, there is no reason to panic if bitten by a spider.

However, there are spider species like the black widow spider (Latrodectus) and the brown recluse spider (or brown fiddler) that causes more than just skin allergies. Their venom is composed of more fatal components. Those can lead to necrosis, severe skin infections, or worse. So let’s discuss what it comprises so we know how to deal with it. 

black widow venomous spider
A black widow spider. Credit to Ken-ichi Ueda, via Wikipedia.
… [Read More]

Filed Under: Everyday Life Chemistry Tagged With: Biochemistry

Is It Safe To Drink Distilled Water?

December 8, 2019 By Emily McPeek 2 Comments

distilled water safe

There are lots of myths and misunderstandings these days about water safety and health benefits. Is it dangerous to drink distilled water, even if it’s purer than tap water? And what’s with this alkaline water trend? Let’s set the record straight here. Applying your knowledge of chemistry can help you cut through the marketing hype… [Read More]

Filed Under: Everyday Life Chemistry Tagged With: inorganic chemistry

The 21 Most Dangerous Chemicals in the World (Steer Away!)

October 22, 2019 By C. Hall 3 Comments

most dangerous chemicals

Chemistry is fascinating, I’m sure we all agree on that. Not only that: thanks to chemistry we know of many compounds that are extremely harmful if not handled properly. Today we will share with you a comprehensive list of the most dangerous chemicals known to man. Chemicals are not bad (even not-organic ones). The thing… [Read More]

Filed Under: Everyday Life Chemistry Tagged With: general chemistry

The Asparagus Pee Smell Gene (Chemistry Behind the Scenes)

July 25, 2019 By C. Hall 1 Comment

asparagus pee smell

You probably have experienced yourself, or at least heard of a funny smell present on your urine after eating asparagus. Then you must know that the so-called asparagus pee smell gene is behind this. I hear the same discussion pop up form time to time among both chemists and non-chemists: why does some people’s urine… [Read More]

Filed Under: Everyday Life Chemistry Tagged With: Biochemistry

Bee vs Wasp Sting Venom: Truth and Chemical Myths

July 2, 2019 By C. Hall 18 Comments

I have read from many different sources the same statement about bee vs wasp sting venom: Bee sting venom is acidic, and wasp venom is basic (alkaline), therefore, the “treatment” or remedy selected to treat each case should be based on this consideration. This would be based on a simple acid-base neutralization. There is some… [Read More]

Filed Under: Everyday Life Chemistry Tagged With: general chemistry

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why do chemicals react

Why Do Chemicals React? Kinetics and Thermodynamics

April 10, 2021 By C. Hall 4 Comments

Chemistry is the science of change. But why do chemical reactions take place? Why do chemicals react with each other? The answer is in thermodynamics and kinetics. These … [Read More...]

How to Learn Chemistry

How To Learn Chemistry at Any Level

January 31, 2020 By C. Hall 2 Comments

Have you ever wanted to learn chemistry, but just didn’t know how to go about doing it? Taking college courses and you don't know how to find resources? There is so much to … [Read More...]

tlc guide

Thin Layer Chromatography: A Complete Guide to TLC

January 2, 2020 By C. Hall 31 Comments

If there is one technique or experiment that every chemist, or student learning chemistry should know, it is Thin Layer Chromatography (or TLC for short). If you want to … [Read More...]

best chemistry set for kids

The Best Chemistry Set for Kids (and Adults!)

January 1, 2020 By Emily McPeek 1 Comment

There’s no better way to learn about chemistry than with fun, hands-on experiments and science projects. Teachers and parents, read on to learn the best chemistry set for kids … [Read More...]

best chemistry textbook

The Best General Chemistry Textbook

August 23, 2019 By C. Hall 1 Comment

The new academic year has already begun in many parts of the world, but it’s never too early to start planning for next year. Time to get your hands into the best general … [Read More...]

best inorganic chemistry textbook

The Best Inorganic Chemistry Textbooks

August 5, 2019 By C. Hall 14 Comments

Inorganic chemistry is one of the cornerstones of the central science. For many is the most fun, but it covers an extremely wide range of topics. For this reason, you need to … [Read More...]

top 100 chemistry facts

100 Fun Chemistry Facts (With Awesome Explanations!)

July 18, 2019 By C. Hall 9 Comments

You probably agree with me on the first fact: chemistry is fascinating. There are plenty of unanswered mysteries within this science, but there are also many interesting and … [Read More...]

Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam

The Best AP Chemistry Review Book

July 5, 2019 By C. Hall 2 Comments

Summer vacation is a time to relax and unwind, but students enrolled in advanced placement (or AP for short) classes for the coming school year are already planning for the … [Read More...]

Clayden Organic Chemistry Textbook

The Best Organic Chemistry Textbook [A Definitive Guide]

June 27, 2019 By C. Hall 28 Comments

Let's face it, organic chemistry can seem difficult to learn. Especially from a beginner's point of view. For exactly that reason we have put together the definitive guide for … [Read More...]

Home Chemistry Lab Experiments

Chemistry Experiments at Home: Setting Up a Home Lab

June 22, 2019 By C. Hall Leave a Comment

Not everybody has access to a professional chemistry lab, so setting up a home chemistry lab is your best bet if you want to do chemistry experiments at home. Chemistry is … [Read More...]

Can we see atoms and molecules?

Can We See Real Atoms and Molecules? Electron Microscopy at a Glance

June 17, 2019 By C. Hall 2 Comments

A universal challenge that has been keeping chemists busy ever since the modern concepts of “atom” and “molecules” were conceived, is how to actually characterize molecular … [Read More...]

TLC Lab Hacks

Lab Hacks – How to Increase your Productivity in the Lab

November 19, 2016 By C. Hall 4 Comments

I have been working in a chemistry laboratory for some years and still every once in a while I learn new amazing tricks or lab hacks that leave me open-mouthed. Also, it has … [Read More...]

LSD

LSD Synthesis and Discovery: What You May Not Know About It

December 14, 2014 By C. Hall 28 Comments

Disclaimer: This article is purely informative, and it does not contain information about how to actually carry out experimental procedures for the synthesis of LSD or any … [Read More...]

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