Probably everyone studied at school important facts in chemistry. However, not everyone knows that chemistry surrounds us everywhere. It's impossible to imagine life modern man without the use of chemical elements that are of great benefit to humanity. In addition, interesting facts about chemistry in human life will help you learn more about this amazing and useful science. Everyone should learn about chemical elements and their invaluable benefits to humans. Next, we will take a closer look at interesting facts about chemistry and how it is useful for human life.
1. To ensure standard flight modern aircraft about 80 tons of oxygen are needed. The same amount of oxygen is produced by 40 thousand hectares of forest during photosynthesis.
2. About twenty grams of salt are contained in one liter of sea water.
3. The length of 100 million hydrogen atoms in one chain is one centimeter.
4. About 7 mg of gold can be extracted from one ton of the waters of the World Ocean.
5. About 75% of water is contained in the human body.
6. The mass of our planet has increased by one billion tons over the past five centuries.
7. The thinnest matter that a person can see includes the walls of a soap bubble.
8. 0.001 seconds - speed of bursting of a soap bubble.
9. At a temperature of 5000 degrees Celsius, iron turns into a gaseous state.
10. The sun produces more energy in one minute than our planet needs for a whole year.
11. Granite is considered the best conductor of sound compared to air.
12. Largest quantity chemical elements were discovered by Carl Shelley, a leading Canadian researcher.
13. The largest platinum nugget weighs more than 7 kilograms.
15. Joseph Black discovered carbon dioxide in 1754.
16. Under the influence of soy sauce, a chemical reaction occurs that makes the killed squid “dance” on the plate.
17. Responsible for the characteristic smell of feces organic compound skatol.
18. Pyotr Stolypin took the chemistry exam from Dmitry Mendeleev.
19. The transition of a substance from a solid to a gaseous state in chemistry is called sublimation.
20. In addition to mercury at room temperature in liquid substance goes into francium and gallium.
21. Water containing methane can freeze at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.
22. Hydrogen is the lightest gas.
23. Hydrogen is also the most abundant substance in the world.
24. Lithium is considered one of the lightest metals.
25. In his youth, Charles Darwin was famous for his chemical discoveries.
26. In a dream, Mendeleev discovered a system of chemical elements.
27. Countries were named after large number chemical elements.
28. Onions contain a substance called sulfur, which causes tears in humans.
29. In Indonesia, people extract sulfur from a volcano, which brings them great profit.
30. In addition, sulfur is also added to cosmetics that are designed to cleanse problem skin.
31. Earwax protects a person from harmful bacteria and microorganisms.
32. French researcher B. Courtois discovered iodine in 1811.
33. More than 100 thousand chemical reactions occurs every minute in the human brain.
34. Silver is known for its bactericidal properties, therefore it can purify water from viruses and microorganisms.
35. The name “sodium” was first used by Berzelius.
36. Iron can be easily turned into gas if it is heated to 5 thousand degrees Celsius.
37. Half the mass of the Sun is hydrogen.
38. About 10 billion tons of gold are contained in the waters of the World Ocean.
39. Once upon a time, only seven metals were known.
40. Ernest Rutherford was the first to be awarded Nobel Prize in chemistry.
41. Dihydrogen monoxide is part of acid rain and is dangerous for all living organisms.
42. At first, platinum was cheaper than silver due to its refractoriness.
43. Geosmin is a substance that is produced on the surface of the earth after rain, causing a characteristic odor.
44. Chemical elements such as ytterbium, yttrium, erbium and terbium were named after the Swedish village of Ytterby.
45. Alexander Fleming first discovered antibiotics.
46. Birds help determine the location of a gas leak due to the presence of the smell of raw meat, which is added artificially.
47. Charles Goodyear first invented rubber.
48. It is easier to get ice from hot water.
49. It is in Finland that the most clean water in the world.
50. Helium is considered the lightest among the noble gases.
51. Emeralds contain beryllium.
52. To color the fire in green use boron.
53. Nitrogen can cause clouding of consciousness.
54. Neon can glow red if current is passed through it.
55. The ocean contains large amounts of sodium.
56. Computer chips use silicon.
57. Phosphorus is used to make matches.
58. Chlorine can cause allergic reactions in the respiratory system.
59. Argon is used in light bulbs.
60. Potassium can burn with a violet fire.
61. Dairy products contain large amounts of calcium.
62. Scandium is used to make baseball bats, which improves their impact resistance.
63. Titanium is used to create jewelry.
64. Vanadium is used to make steel stronger.
65. Rare cars were often decorated with chrome.
66. Manganese can lead to intoxication of the body.
67. Cobalt is used to make magnets.
68. Nickel is used to produce green glass.
69. Copper conducts current perfectly.
70. To increase the service life of steel, zinc is added to it.
71. Spoons containing gallium may melt in hot water.
72.V mobile phones germanium is used.
73. A toxic substance includes arsenic, from which poison for rats is made.
74. Bromine can melt at room temperature.
75. Strontium is used to produce red fireworks.
76. For production powerful tools molybdenum is used.
77. Technetium is used in x-rays.
78. Ruthenium is used in jewelry production.
79. Rhodium has an incredibly beautiful natural shine.
80. Some pigment paints use cadmium.
81. Indium can produce a sharp sound when bent.
82. For production nuclear weapons use uranium.
83. Americium is used in smoke detectors.
84. Edward Benedictus accidentally invented impact-resistant glass, which is now widely used in various industries.
85. Most rare element the atmosphere is considered radon.
86. Tungsten has the most high temperature boiling.
87. Mercury has the most low temperature melting.
88. Argon was discovered by the English physicist Relay in 1894.
89. Canaries sense the presence of methane in the air, so they are used to search for gas leaks.
90. Small quantity methanol can cause blindness.
91. Cesium is one of the most active metals.
92. Fluorine reacts actively with almost all substances.
93. About thirty chemical elements are part of the human body.
94. B everyday life a person often encounters hydrolysis of salts, for example, when washing clothes.
95. Due to the oxidation reaction, colored pictures appear on the walls of gorges and quarries.
96. It is impossible to wash stains from protein products in hot water.
97. Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide.
98.V earth's crust included greatest number chemical elements.
99. With the help of carbon dioxide, you can obtain a large number of other substances.
100. Aluminum is one of the lightest metals.
10 facts from the life of chemists
1. The life of the chemist Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin is connected not only with chemistry, but also with music.
2.Edouard Benedictus - a chemist from France who made the discovery by accident.
3. Semyon Volfkovich was engaged in experiments related to phosphorus. When he worked with him, his clothes were also saturated with phosphorus, and therefore, when he returned home late at night, the professor emitted a bluish glow.
4.Alexander Fleming discovered antibiotics by accident.
5. The famous chemist Dmitry Mendeleev was the 17th child in the family.
6. Carbon dioxide was discovered by the English scientist Joseph Priestley.
7. Dmitry Mendeleev’s paternal grandfather was a priest.
8.The famous chemist Svante Arrhenius with early years was becoming full.
9.R. Wood, who is considered an American chemist, originally worked as a laboratory assistant.
10. The first Russian textbook “Organic Chemistry” was created by Dmitry Mendeleev in 1861.
Did you know that many discoveries in the field of chemistry were made completely by accident?
How was unbreakable glass invented?
It is known that unbreakable glass was invented French chemist Eduard Benedictus in 1903 Benedictus conducted an experiment with nitrocellulose. A glass flask filled with the substance fell to the floor, but did not break, much to the scientist’s surprise. Benedictus understood why the flask did not break. Before this, a collodion solution was stored in the flask. AND thin layer collodion settles on the walls of the flask.This is how unbreakable glass appeared, from which windshields for cars were subsequently made.
Glowing Monk
Semyon Isaakovich Volfkovich
The famous Soviet chemist Academician Semyon Isaakovich Volfkovich conducted experiments with phosphorus. During his work, his clothes became saturated with phosphorus gas, as Wolfkovich did not take the necessary precautions. And when Volfkovich walked through the streets at night, his clothes glowed with a bluish light, and the people thought that he was an otherworldly creature. This is how the legend of the “luminous monk” appeared in Moscow.
Vulcanized rubber
Charles Nelson Goodyear
Natural rubber, brought by Columbus from the West Indies, was not used. It was too hard in the cold. In warm conditions it is too sticky. 300 years later, American inventor Charles Nelson Goodyear conducted experiments in a chemical laboratory, trying to mix rubber with sulfur. But there was no result. They say that Goodyear accidentally dropped rubber and sulfur onto the hot stove. And a miracle happened. Rubber was obtained that did not become soft in the heat and was not brittle in the cold. Subsequently, this process was called vulcanization.
Discovery of chlorine
Karl Wilhelm Scheele
It is interesting that chlorine was discovered by a man who at that moment was just a pharmacist. This man's name was Charles William Scheele. He had amazing intuition. The famous French organic chemist said that Scheele makes a discovery every time he touches something. Scheele's experiment was very simple. He mixed black magnesia and a solution of muric acid in a special retort apparatus. An airless bubble was attached to the neck of the retort and heated. Soon a yellow-green gas with a pungent odor appeared in the bubble. This is how chlorine was discovered.
MnO2 + 4HCl = Cl2 + MnCl2 + 2H2O
For the discovery of chlorine, Scheele was awarded the title of member of the Stockholm Academy of Sciences, although before that he was not a scientist. Scheele was only 32 years old at the time. But chlorine received its name only in 1812. The author of this name was the French chemist Gay-Lussac.
How Balar discovered bromine
Antoine Jerome Balard
French chemist Antoine Jerome Balard discovered bromine while a laboratory assistant. The salt marsh brine contained sodium bromide. During the experiment, Balar exposed the brine to chlorine. As a result of the interaction reaction, the solution became colored yellow. After some time, Balar isolated a dark brown liquid and called it murid. Gay-Lussac later named the new substance bromine. And Balard in 1844 became a member of the Paris Academy of Sciences. Before the discovery of bromine, Balar was almost unknown in scientific circles. After the discovery of bromine, Balard became head of the chemistry department at the French College. As the French chemist Charles Gerard said: “It was not Balard who discovered bromine, but bromine that discovered Balard!”
Discovery of iodine
Bernard Courtois
The chemical element iodine was discovered by the French chemist and pharmacist Bernard Courtois. Moreover, Courtois’s beloved cat can be considered a co-author of this discovery. One day Bernard Courtois was having lunch in the laboratory. There was a cat sitting on his shoulder. Before this, Courtois prepared bottles with chemical solutions. One bottle contained sodium iodide. The other was concentrated sulfuric acid. Suddenly the cat jumped to the floor. The bottles broke. Their contents are mixed. Blue-violet vapor was formed, which then settled in the form of crystals. This is how it was received chemical element iodine.
Chemistry is one of ancient sciences. She studies substances, their compounds, structure, transformations. First information about chemical transformations people got it by doing various crafts. Alchemists made a significant contribution to the development of chemistry. Looking for philosopher's stone, capable of turning any metal into gold, they made many scientific discoveries. The history of the development of chemistry is full interesting events and amazing experiments.
Basic rules of conduct in a chemical laboratory
- If you uncork something, reseal it immediately.
- If turned on, turn it off.
- If you opened it, close it.
- If you have liquid in your hands, don’t spill it, if you have powder, don’t scatter it, and if you have gaseous, don’t let it out.
- If you don't know how it works, don't touch it.
More expensive than gold
In 1669, the German alchemist Hennig Brand, in search of the philosopher's stone, decided to try to synthesize gold from human urine. In the course of his experiments with urine, he received white powder, glowing in the dark. Hennig took it to be the "primordial matter" of gold and called it "light-bearer" (pronounced "phosphorus" in Greek). When further experiments with this powder did not lead to the production of the precious metal, the alchemist began to sell the new substance at an even higher price than gold itself.
Great chemist
One day in 1837, a deafening explosion was heard in the basement of a private boarding house in Kazan. The culprit turned out to be 9-year-old student Sasha Butlerov, who was trying to make either gunpowder or “sparklers.” The teacher severely punished the student.
For three days in a row, Sasha walked around with a sign hanging on his chest, on which in large letters it was written: “THE GREAT CHEMIST.” Subsequently, these words became prophetic - the violator of discipline became the great Russian chemist Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov, the creator of the theory chemical structure organic matter, Rector of the Imperial Kazan University.
Who invented unbreakable glass?
In 1903, French chemist Edouard Benedictus accidentally dropped a flask filled with nitrocellulose. The walls of the flask were covered with a network of cracks, but the flask itself did not break. Surprised by this fact, the scientist conducted several experiments - he made “sandwiches” from two glasses and a layer of cellulose nitrate between them. When heated, the cellulose layer melted and glued the glasses together. Such a “sandwich” could be hit with a hammer - it would crack, but retain its shape and not splinter. In 1909, Benedictus received a patent for safety glass, which he called “triplex.”
It is noteworthy that the first new material The military drew attention - during the First World War, gas mask glasses were made from it. It was only in 1919 that Henry Ford began using triplex in the production of car windshields.
Aqua regia
Aqua regia is a mixture of concentrated acids, very dangerous poisonous substance. It has a yellowish color and a chlorine smell. It includes hydrochloric acid HC1 (one volume) and nitrogen HNO 3 (three volumes). Sometimes sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4) is added to them. “Royal Vodka” owes its name to its unique property - it dissolves almost all metals, including gold and platinum, but does not dissolve either ceramics or glass.
When during World War II German troops occupied the Danish capital of Copenhagen, the Hungarian chemist Gyorgy de Hevesy dissolved the gold Nobel medals of the German physicists Max von Laus and James Frank in aqua regia, having no other way to hide them from the German occupiers. After the war, Hevesy isolated the gold hidden in aqua regia and gave it to the Swedish royal academy Sciences, which produced new medals and gave them to von Laus and Frank.
1. Penicillin
A classic “accidental invention” is penicillin. Alexander Fleming was very fond of performing all sorts of experiments. Literally lived in his laboratory. I even ate right at my desk. But there was neither time nor desire to clean up - I was all about science. This is what happened during a study of staphylococcus bacteria greatest discovery- one of the samples was killed by mold spores, which the professor had everywhere - even on the ceiling. In 1945, Fleming was even given the Nobel Prize for penicillin!
2. Nobel Prize
By the way, about the Nobel Prize! In theory, this award should talk about subtle and vulnerable soul Alfred Nobel, personify altruism and selfless devotion to science and art. Nothing of the kind! It was just the opposite. The overzealous journalists got something wrong and published an obituary for the millionaire’s death ahead of time. It was then that Nobel learned the whole truth about himself: “merchant of death”, “millionaire on blood” and everything like that. Not wanting to remain in human memory as a villain, he bequeathed his entire fortune to the establishment of a foundation and prize named after himself.
3. Microwave
American Percy Spencer improved a device that generated microwave radio signals that were used in the first radars. One day, standing at a working magnetron (that’s the name of the device), the engineer reached into his pocket for a Snickers and fell into melted chocolate. When it's all over swear words, enlightenment came: “I invented the microwave!”
4. Reinforced concrete
The French gardener Joseph Monier almost went bankrupt selling palm trees - on the road, clay pots broke and the plants died. The idea came up to make a tub of cement, and for strength, a frame of iron rods. This is how reinforced concrete was invented. There is no time for palm trees anymore. Ten years later, Monier patented reinforced concrete sleepers, and even later - reinforced concrete floors, beams, bridges and much more.
5. Chocolate spread
Pietro Ferrero made sweets and sold them at a local fair. One day he took so long to get ready for work that the heat turned the sweets into a shapeless pile of chocolate. In order to sell at least something, Pietro spread the resulting mass on bread and... became the inventor of Nutella chocolate spread. Today the company, named after its founder, is one of the most profitable in the world. And before starting particularly important matters or negotiations, Pietro always prayed: “May Holy Nutella help us!”
6. Kyiv cake
More about sweets. “Kyiv cake” also appeared by accident. The biscuit shop workers simply forgot to put the whipped dough in the refrigerator. egg white. In the morning, the head of the workshop named Petrenko, at his own risk, risk and excitement, decided to make a cake from what he had. This is how a new ingredient appeared - the famous crispy cakes. It would not be a shame to present such a cake to Brezhnev himself for one of his many anniversaries!
7. Caesar Salad
One of the most famous salads, Caesar, was first prepared by accident. It was July 4, 1924. On the occasion of the celebration of US Independence Day, so many people came to Caesar Cardini's restaurant that there were not enough snacks for everyone. And the shops were closed on the occasion of the holiday. Either resourcefulness or despair helped: Caesar decided to mix everything that was left in the kitchen - cheese, eggs, lettuce, garlic and even bread. The holiday was a success. The life of a restaurateur is the same.
8. Sirtaki dance
You can even invent a dance by accident! Shortly before filming the final scene of the film “Zorba the Greek,” Anthony Quinn broke his leg, and according to the script there was a jumping dance. I had to come up with something else. This something was called “sirtaki” and became one of the symbols of Greece. By the way, the music for the dance has nothing to do with Greece - it was also written specifically for the film. Although I still want to think that this is exactly how the ancient Greeks danced!
9. Superglue
In 1942, Kodak was looking for a clear plastic for gun sights. One of the company's employees, Harry Coover, received a certain substance that stuck to everything and spoiled any materials. 15 years later, Coover remembered that bad experience and patented superglue. The same one that is now sold at any kiosk. Moreover, at first the glue was produced by the same Kodak.
10. Unbreakable glass
Laziness is often the engine of progress! This is how the wheel was invented, and the crane, and even triplex, unbreakable glass. But not because the French chemist Edouard Benedictus was too lazy to replace broken windows (for example, from a slingshot). He was too lazy to wash the test tubes and flasks. One such vessel once fell and... did not break! It turned out that there had been a solution of ethyl ether, ethanol and nitrates in the flask for a long time. The liquid evaporated, leaving a thin layer of solution on the walls. By the way, Volvo began using Benedictus’ invention back in 1944.
11. Crossword
Several people are vying for the title of inventor of the crossword puzzle. For example, a certain Victor Orville. Invented by accident. From idleness and hopelessness. In prison. He formed letters into words on the square tiles of the floor of his cell. It turned out beautiful and unusual. Which prompted the prisoner to have highly intellectual thoughts. Orville came up with some simple rules and sent the crossword to the local newspaper. Released from clear conscience and with a substantial amount in the bank account.
Due to the financial crisis of the 30s of the last century, the Danish carpenter Ole Christiansen almost went around the world. The people had no time for the stepladders on which they had once climbed in every sense. But the construction set for children that Christiansen made suddenly began to be in demand. Soon the carpenter founded a manufacturing company Lego constructors. Yes, yes, at first this famous toy was made of wood - the carpenter just wanted to sell the remains of the wood, he had nothing else! Lego became plastic only in 1947.
13. Teflon
The young ambitious chemist Roy Plunkett struggled for a long time to obtain varieties of freon. One evening he put a container of tetrafluoroethylene in the freezer and the next morning he received a substance that did not deteriorate under the influence of water, fats, acids and alkalis, and also had high heat and frost resistance. At first, this discovery was appreciated by the military, and then the new substance began to be used in everyday life. It's called Teflon.
A capricious client of one hotel restaurant complained: “Waiter, why are your potatoes cut into such slices?” Chef George Crum responded with dignity: he sliced the potatoes as thinly as possible. As they would say now, the guest did not understand the trolling; on the contrary, he was indescribably delighted with the fried thin slices. And the restaurant’s business quickly went uphill. Due to the signature dish called chips. This was in 1853.
15. Port
1678, the British government stopped trading with France, English wine merchants were on the verge of bankruptcy. True, there was an option to transport alcohol from Portugal. But the road was long, the wine quickly spoiled. We tried adding brandy to the barrels. The result was a fortified wine, which was called port - after the name of the city of Porto, where the goods were purchased.
16. Madera
Another story about Portuguese wine and long way. To India. Once a ship full of wine got stuck on the equator - calm, you know, the wind is silent... The wine was hopelessly spoiled, the client refused to receive the goods. And the sailors are strong guys, and they didn’t drink like that! – they didn’t disdain. We uncorked the first barrel and - oh, miracle! Glory to Dionysus almighty! This is Madeira! Well, I mean, at that moment it, Madeira, was invented.
17. Cue heel
Practically revolutionary discovery for billiards - a sticker on the end of the cue - was done completely by accident. An avid player and billiards theorist, Francois Mengo, broke his leg. It became difficult to play... or rather, difficult, but he couldn’t sit at home, so he came and just watched others play. One day, as a joke, I hit the ball with a crutch and... If you don’t know, the ball can spin in place, roll back, change angles and speed solely thanks to this very heel of the cue.
18. Sticker
Employees American company The office supply industry tried for a long time and unsuccessfully to improve acrylic glue. The new glue stuck perfectly, but did not hold together at all. Here it was important to forget about the purpose of the experiment. Spencer Silver and Arthur Fry stopped there, as a result of which the company quickly turned into a transnational corporation with an annual turnover of $20 billion! And all thanks to the stickers invented by this couple.
19. Elvis Presley
One ten-year-old boy dreamed of a bicycle. But his family was poor. My father is generally unemployed, and before that he spent a couple of years behind bars. But how can you leave your beloved child without a birthday present? We decided to give the guitar as a gift - it was cheaper. So the child took up music. It turns out that it was completely accidental. I mastered the instrument, then began to sing. Started making progress and serving high hopes. The young talent's name was Elvis Presley.
By the end of the 19th century, how science was formed organic chemistry. Interesting facts will help you understand better the world around us and find out how new ones were made scientific discoveries.
"Live" dish
The first interesting fact about chemistry concerns unusual foods. One of the famous dishes of Japanese cuisine is “Odori Donu” - “dancing squid”. Many people are shocked by the sight of squid moving its tentacles in a plate. But don’t worry, he’s not suffering and hasn’t felt anything for a long time. Freshly skinned squid is placed in a bowl of rice and topped with soy sauce before serving. The squid's tentacles begin to contract. This is due to the special structure of the nerve fibers, which for some time after the death of the animal react with sodium ions contained in the sauce, causing the muscles to contract.
Accidental discovery
Interesting facts about chemistry often concern discoveries made by accident. So, in 1903, Edouard Benedictus, a famous French chemist, invented unbreakable glass. The scientist accidentally dropped the flask, which was filled with nitrocellulose. He noticed that the flask broke, but the glass did not shatter into pieces. After spending necessary research, the chemist found that shockproof glass can be created in a similar way. This is how the first safety glass for cars appeared, which significantly reduced the number of injuries in car accidents.
Live sensor
Interesting facts about chemistry tell about the use of animal sensitivity for human benefit. Until 1986, miners took canaries underground with them. The fact is that these birds are extremely sensitive to firedamp gases, especially methane and carbon monoxide. Even with a small concentration of these substances in the air, the bird can die. The miners listened to the bird's singing and monitored its well-being. If the canary becomes restless or begins to weaken, this is a signal that the mine needs to be left.
The bird did not necessarily die from poisoning, but fresh air she was getting better quickly. They even used special sealed cages that were closed when there were signs of poisoning. Even today, no device has been invented that senses ore gases as finely as a canary.
Rubber
Interesting fact about chemistry: one more accidental invention- rubber. Charles Goodyear, an American scientist, discovered a recipe for making rubber that does not melt in the heat and does not break in the cold. He accidentally heated a mixture of sulfur and rubber by leaving it on the stove. The process of producing rubber was called vulcanization.
Penicillin
Another interesting fact about chemistry: penicillin was invented by accident. I forgot about the test tube with staphylococcus bacteria for several days. And when I remembered her, I discovered that the colony was dying. The whole thing turned out to be mold, which began to destroy the bacteria. It was from this that the scientist obtained the world's first antibiotic.
Poltergeist
Interesting facts about chemistry can refute mystical stories. You can often hear about ancient houses filled with ghosts. And the whole point is an outdated and poorly functioning heating system. Due to the leakage of the toxic substance, residents of the house experience headaches, as well as auditory and visual hallucinations.
Gray cardinals among plants
Chemistry can explain the behavior of animals and plants. During evolution, many plants have developed defense mechanisms against herbivores. Most often, plants secrete poison, but scientists have discovered a more subtle method of protection. Some plants secrete substances that attract... predators! Predators regulate the number of herbivores and scare them away from the place where “smart” plants grow. Even familiar plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers have this mechanism. For example, a caterpillar undermined a cucumber leaf, and the smell of the secreted juice attracted birds.
Squirrel Defenders
Interesting facts: chemistry and medicine are closely related. During experiments on mice, virologists discovered interferon. This protein is produced in all vertebrates. A special protein, interferon, is released from a virus-infected cell. It does not have an antiviral effect, but it contacts healthy cells and makes them immune to the virus.
The smell of metal
We usually think that coins, handrails in public transport, railings, etc. smell of metal. But this smell is not emitted by metal, but by compounds that are formed as a result of contact of organic substances, for example, human sweat, with the metal surface. In order for a person to smell a characteristic odor, very few reagents are needed.
Construction material
Chemistry has been studying proteins relatively recently. They arose more than 4 billion years ago in an incomprehensible way. Proteins are the building material for all living organisms; other forms of life are unknown to science. Half of the dry mass of most living organisms is made up of proteins.
In 1767, people became interested in the nature of the bubbles that come out of beer during fermentation. He collected the gas in a bowl of water, which he tasted. The water was pleasant and refreshing. Thus, the scientist discovered carbon dioxide, which is used today to produce sparkling water. Five years later he described more effective method obtaining this gas.
Sugar substitute
This interesting fact about chemistry suggests that many scientific discoveries were made almost by accident. Curious case led to the discovery of the properties of sucralose, a modern sugar substitute. Leslie Hough, a professor from London studying the properties of the new substance trichlorosucrose, instructed his assistant Shashikant Phadnis to test it (test in English). Student with poor knowledge English, understood this word as “taste”, which means taste, and immediately followed the instructions. Sucralose turned out to be very sweet.
Flavoring
Skatole is an organic compound formed in the intestines of animals and humans. It is this substance that causes the characteristic smell of feces. But if in large concentrations skatole has the smell of feces, then in small quantities this substance has a pleasant smell, reminiscent of cream or jasmine. Therefore, skatole is used to flavor perfumes, food products and tobacco products.
Cat and iodine
An interesting fact about chemistry - iodine was used in the discovery direct participation the most ordinary cat. The pharmacist and chemist Bernard Courtois usually dined in the laboratory, and he was often joined by a cat who loved to sit on his owner’s shoulder. After another meal, the cat jumped onto the floor, knocking over containers with sulfuric acid and a suspension of algae ash in ethanol that stood near the work table. The liquids mixed, and violet vapor began to rise into the air, settling on objects in small black-violet crystals. This is how a new chemical element was discovered.
