Chemistry in its Element: Compounds

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  • Young woman suffering from seasickness
    Podcast

    Cinnarizine (stugeron)

    12 October 2017

    Neil Withers relives a choppy (and messy) sea voyage to bring us the science of anti-seasickness drug cinnarizine

  • Preparing a solution from the salt of sodium dichromate
    Podcast

    Sodium dichromate

    6 October 2017

    Discover the compound at the heart of a multi-million dollar legal case and an Oscar–winning role for Julia Roberts

  • PC-3 human prostate cancer cells in air bubble, stained with Coomassie blue, under differencial interference contrast microscope.
    Podcast

    Coomassie blue

    29 September 2017

    How an attractive blue dye became the basis of a fundamental lab technique

  • News stories about 'Ginger Jake', the spirit that caused paralysis known as 'Jake walk' during prohibition
    Podcast

    Phosphorus chlorides

    22 September 2017

    A hugely useful group of compounds that have a distinct dual personality

  • Glove box for working in an inert atmosphere
    Podcast

    tert-Butyl lithium or t-BuLi

    13 September 2017

    A pyrophoric reagent that remains one of chemistry’s staples and the liquid salts that can tame its wild reactivity

  • Alizarin based pigment being squeezed from a metal tube
    Podcast

    Alizarin

    7 September 2017

    Mike Freemantle introduces a pigment used by William Morris that also gave the Redcoats their distinctive hue

  • Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) pictograms for chlorine trifluoride on a background of flames
    Podcast

    Chlorine trifluoride

    31 August 2017

    Tabitha Watson introduces a poisonous, corrosive and extremely reactive compound that will start ‘roaring reactions’ with almost anything

  • A photograph of a ship made out of ice
    Podcast

    Pykrete

    23 August 2017

    A lightweight, bulletproof material made from ice and wood pulp

  • A baby in a disposable nappy with a snowglobe
    Podcast

    Sodium polyacrylate

    16 August 2017

    Need some fake snow for your Christmas party? Simply look inside a baby’s nappy.

  • Film x-ray of human foot and arthritis at first metatarsophalangeal Joint . 2 position ( front and side view )
    Podcast

    Indometacin

    10 August 2017

    A popular prescription pill that helps to keep gout and other arthritic conditions under control