The Chemistry Channel

...and just what is chemistry?

Chemistry is the unifying science. It builds on our understanding of Physics, applying concepts of sub-atomic particles, energy and thermodynamics, waves, electromagnetic theory, and a great deal more. It lays the foundation for the modern understanding of biology. The molecules of life - DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids - all are chemistry. It drives modern-day engineering and materials sciences. Plastics, paints, ultra-light construction materials - none of it is possible without chemistry. Health and nutrition are directly tied to chemistry as well, as manufactured chemicals provide items like medicines, supplements, sugar-substitutes, and artificial flavors. So much that people take for granted in daily life is chemistry. As a community of chemistry authors, it is our job to help the non-chemists in the world better understand and appreciate the wonders of chemistry.

"Why Do I Need to Know Chemistry?"

Every chemistry teacher aches from hearing this question asked. Truth be told, you don't need to know chemistry. You also don't need to be able to read, write, balance a checkbook, use good manners in public, or listen to policemen. It does, however, help make life go a lot more smoothly when you have these basic skills and knowledge. Besides, knowledge is power, and why would you choose to be powerless when the knowledge is so readily available? Just look at everything our Helium authors have ready to share with you.

How understanding chemistry can help you in daily life

by Glen Brizius

Every day, we're faced with decisions. Some decisions - buying a car, choosing a mate - we take more seriously than other decisions. Sometimes we have only a few seconds to spend on making a gut insti...More>
6 articles Write Now Write

What Makes a Good Chemistry Article?

Writing about science is always a tricky matter. A technical discussion can be exceedingly dry and (worse) hard to follow for someone who is unfamiliar with the terminiology. Always consider the audience when writing about chemistry. For the most part, serious chemists will have access to texts and journals that provide the highly detailed intricacies of a given topic. The general audience that will be viewing these articles will most likely be students and the general public - people who don't have as strong a background in the subject matter, nor the reference materials to translate all the scientific jargon. With this in mind, these are suggestions to keep in the back of your head when authoring articles on hot chemical topics.

Start basic - Don't assume that your audience has a great deal of background in the subject. If there is too much background to cover in the article, provide a link to a source that can bring them up to speed.
Define your terms - It is okay to use big chemistry words. As soon as you do, make sure that your audience knows what they mean by providing a definition or an example. It won't matter how well you know what you're talking about if you lose your audience by talking over their heads.
Make it relevant - Chemistry is a part of daily life. I know that, you know that, but a lot of the time, they don't know that. Include examples of how your topic really is a part of their lives, and they'll want to read more.
Keep them awake - "Just the facts, Ma'am" is great for Dragnet. In an article, it's a sleeper. The history of chemistry is filled with interesting stories and characters. Chemicals are used for all kinds of incredible purposes. Find a way to work that into your articles. If need be, humor and puns (only some people think puns are humorous...) can also break up the serious tone of a lengthy explanation. Nobody ever fell in love with chemistry because it was boring. It's your job to kindle a passion for the subject, and this is where it starts.

Chemistry Definition Trivia

In the world of chemistry, ICP stands for:

	Intermolecular Clouds of Protons
	Inductively Coupled Plasma
	Insane Clown Posse
	Ionized Cosmic Particle
	Intrinsically Challenging Problem

Surprises

People sometimes think that science is a methodical series of steps, building knowledge brick by brick. Granted, sometimes this is the reality of research. Endless hours - days - months - can tick by in the lab without anything untoward happening. The most exciting discoveries, however, are often tied to the unexpected. A single observation that doesn't fit with what is already known can be all the stimulus required to redefine a whole field, to spur a new invention, or (as in the case below) reveal that which was already there, but unseen. One truly has to wonder - did the scientist feel a bit light-headed when he discovered helium?

The discovery of helium

by Sam Beever

Helium is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is inert, not reacting with any element, including itself, and so tiny that it is used to find microscopic leaks. How did we ever discover such an elus...More>
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Even in Dreams

Early organic chemists discovered an amazing molecule - benzene. They were able to determine its chemical formula (C₆H₆) and observed its chemical and physical properties with something approaching astonishment. Compared to other chemicals with similar hydrocarbon composition, benzene was remarkable stable, or unreactive. One part of trying to understand this enhanced stability was to determine the chemical structure of benzene. Alas, this was long before chemists had modern day acronymic instruments such as FTIR, NMR, or GC-MS. They had to work largely by guesswork, puzzling things out on paper. The problem was that every structure they devised seemed to indicate that benzene should be less stable, or more reactive. It was quite a dilemma, and kept chemists puzzled for ages. One man, by the last name Kekule (pronounced kay-koo-lay), was as puzzled and frustrated as the rest. Along with the rest, he spent his time sketching structures, tearing them up, casting them to the floor, tearing his hair out and cursing the name of this impossible molecule. It became such an obsession that the poor man even thought about it when he dreamed. As bad as that sounds, it was a blessing for chemists everywhere that Kekule went to bed one night, and dreamed of a simple, elegant ring. That was the key, of course, and when he awoke, he had both the answer and peace of mind. Benzene's carbons were arranged in a ring, with one hydrogen apiece. The extra stability came from a special arrangement of the carbon-carbon bonds that we refer to now as "delocalization". His discovery allowed chemists to once again sleep easy at night, but to recognize a whole new class of molecules.

Zone Manager Ernest Capraro Helium member since Aug 24, 07 Number of Zones: 1	Contact Add as Friend
E. Capraro - Chemistry Channel Manager

By the Steward

It only seems fair that the person who runs the page should have at least One of his articles on display. Sure, he might feel a little bit guilty about this, but since it does happen to be a #1 ranked article on a highly relevant topic, odds are that he'll be able to live with himself.

An overview of the periodic table of the elements

by Ernest Capraro

If you have had the opportunity to study chemistry at all, chances are that you've met the Periodic Table of the Elements. No, it doesn't have to be capitalized, but it sure looks impressive that way,...More>
3 articles Write Now Write

Useful Links

As non-commercial as they come, these links are meant to be useful resources to authors and readers alike.

Periodic Table
How often do you need access to a periodic table when reading or writing about elements? Here's an excellent one to use.
Chemistry Dictionary
Because everybody forgets to define their terms once in a while.

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