Chemistry in its element
624 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 177 ratingsA weekly tour of the periodic table, from Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
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Episodes
Butyric acid: Chemistry in its element
November 09, 2016 17:09 - 6 minutes - 5.87 MBLouise Crane reveals the compound that gives American chocolate and wet dogs their distinct aroma
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP): Chemistry in its element
November 02, 2016 16:03 - 6 minutes - 5.83 MBKat Arney explains how a protein that repairs broken DNA holds the key to killing cancer cells – but only if you stop it from doing its job
Neodymium chloride: Chemistry in its element
October 26, 2016 14:55 - 5 minutes - 5.16 MBFrom medicine to the military, this compound makes lasers for a range of applications. Brian Clegg discovers neodymium chloride
Gabapentin: Chemistry in its element
October 19, 2016 15:54 - 6 minutes - 6.04 MBLouise Crane documents the rise and fall of gabapentin – from ‘wonder drug’ to illicit substance in just 50 years
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): Chemistry in its element
October 12, 2016 16:23 - 6 minutes - 5.82 MBThe story of one of the most ubiquitous artificial compounds
BINAP: Chemistry in its element
October 06, 2016 17:21 - 6 minutes - 7.38 MBKatrina Kramer introduces the Nobel prize-winning ligand that will give you just the hand you need: BINAP or 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl
Fluorouracil: Chemistry in its element
September 28, 2016 13:06 - 6 minutes - 6.16 MBA substitute for one of the bases in DNA that can cause the death of cancer cells
Quaternary ammonium salts: Chemistry in its element
September 21, 2016 15:11 - 5 minutes - 4.99 MBBrian Clegg introduces a family of molecules that first gave fluffy softness to freshly washed clothes
Ergotamine: Chemistry in its element
September 14, 2016 16:02 - 6 minutes - 5.85 MBBen Valsler finds out why writing Alice’s adventures in Wonderland was such a headache for Lewis Carroll
Spinel: Chemistry in its element
September 07, 2016 16:25 - 5 minutes - 4.93 MBFind out about the Black Prince’s ruby, which is no ruby at all
Aconitine: Chemistry in its element
August 31, 2016 15:03 - 5 minutes - 5.51 MBThis powerful poison is said to have the power to transform werewolves and heal snake bites. Brian Clegg unpicks fiction from fact
Raspberry ketone: Chemistry in its element
August 24, 2016 12:11 - 8 minutes - 6.48 MBIs there really a simple, fruity route to weight loss?
Statins: Chemistry in its element
August 17, 2016 15:50 - 6 minutes - 5.97 MBBrian Clegg gets to the heart of the matter on the benefits or otherwise of one of the most commonly prescribed drugs
Ghrelin: Chemistry in its element
August 10, 2016 12:33 - 6 minutes - 5.61 MBIs there a single hormone that causes hunger, and is this it?
Prodiginines: Chemistry in its element
August 03, 2016 16:00 - 7 minutes - 7.24 MBWhen the communion bread starts secreting blood, could this be the cause?
Taurine: Chemistry in its element
July 26, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 5.29 MBKat Arney tells us about the active ingredient in energy drinks
Picric acid: Chemistry in its element
July 20, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.47 MBA yellow dress, of the type worn by Jane Austen, sets Michael Freemantle exploring the chemistry of picric acid
Spilanthol: Chemistry in its element
July 14, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 5.25 MBIt's the active molecule in the plant known as electric daisies or the toothache plant but it might also make your skin smoother
Thiomersal: Chemistry in its element
July 06, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 5.26 MBKat Arney introduces the organomercury preservative associated with the current controversy around vaccines
Ammonium carbonate: Chemistry in its element
June 29, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.38 MBEver taken a whiff of smelling salts? For many years, the compound that contributed the pungent pong was ammonium carbonate
Asafoetida: Chemistry in its element
June 22, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.37 MBWith a name that literally means rotten resin, asafoetida is a surprising food additive and deodorant
Methyl isocyanate: Chemistry in its element
June 15, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.95 MBThe 1984 accident at Bhopal, India, was the worst in the history of industrial chemistry. It involved a leak of methyl isocyanate
Shikimic acid: Chemistry in its element
June 08, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.66 MBKat Arney introduces a biologically ubiquitous compound, important in beating both infectious viruses and invasive weeds
Sucrose: Chemistry in its element
May 31, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.69 MBThe tastiest food additive there is, or the greatest threat to life in the western world?
Cordite: Chemistry in its element
May 25, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.54 MBThe Battle of Jutland was fought 100 years ago next week, on May 31st, 1916. A critical role was played by cordite
Coumarin: Chemistry in its element
May 18, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.87 MBMichael Freemantle takes a stroll through 'Jane Austen country' to discover this week's compound: Coumarin
Tetraethyl lead: Chemistry in its element
May 11, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.76 MBFor decades, automobile fuel had a dangerous additive: Tetraethyl lead. Matt Gunther explains why a toxic compound was added to our fuel
Haloperidol: Chemistry in its element
May 04, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.69 MBIt failed as a painkiller, but Haldol rapidly became an essential medicine for schizophrenia. Raychelle Burks explains more
Cadmium telluride: Chemistry in its element
April 27, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.62 MBIt may not be the best material for solar cells but it has some distinct advantages
Hydrazine: Chemistry in its element
April 20, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.07 MBRowena Fletcher-Wood on the simple compound that links spandex, automobile safety and space exploration: Hydrazine
Acrylamide: Chemistry in its element
April 13, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.6 MBDoes burnt toast cause cancer? Martha Henriques explores this complex question
Uranium dioxide: Chemistry in its element
April 06, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.25 MBThis week's compound has had a glowing career in the arts and a runaway success in the energy sector
Mauveine: Chemistry in its element
March 30, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 7.11 MBMichael Freemantle with a colourful account of the birth of synthetic organic chemistry
Citronellol: Chemistry in its element
March 23, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 5.16 MBEmma Stoye on citronellol - her constant companion when faced with biting bugs
Fluorescein: Chemistry in its element
March 16, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.93 MBKat Arney discovers the compound that first coloured the Chicago river green for St Patrick's Day
Sodium hypochlorite: Chemistry in its element
March 09, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.24 MBWhat do hygienic work surfaces have in common with 19th century French violins? Brian Clegg finds out.
Brominated vegetable oil: Chemistry in its element
March 02, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.68 MBToo much cola can mess with your brain. The effects of excess brominated vegetable oil explained
Oseltamivir : Chemistry in its element
February 24, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.8 MBOseltamivir, or Tamiflu, stockpiling during the 2009 H1N1 epidemic highlighted significant problems with drugs trials policy
Flibanserin: Chemistry in its element
February 17, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.65 MBFlibanserin was touted to be the female Viagra. Martha Henriques explains why it failed to live up to the hype.
Acrolein: Chemistry in its element
February 09, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.7 MBMichael Freemantle relates the history arolein, a poor tear gas with unexpected benefits
Cedrol: Chemistry in its element
February 03, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.94 MBRaychelle Burks explains how the scent of cedar wood can be used to destroy pests
Ethidium bromide: Chemistry in its element
January 27, 2016 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.79 MBKat Arney shines a light on the fluorescent DNA marker
Calcium carbide: Chemistry in its element
January 19, 2016 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.84 MBMichael Freemantle tells us of discovery that lit the homes and put the food on the table of millions of people
Ectoparasiticides: Chemistry in its element
January 13, 2016 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.68 MBMartha Henriques explains how compounds developed to keep parasites at bay may be protecting rhinos from poachers
Taq Polymerase: Chemistry in its element
December 16, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.44 MBKat Arney reveals how high temperature bacteria provide us with the molecule that speeds up DNA sequencing
Ubiquitin: Chemistry in its element
December 09, 2015 00:00 - 8 minutes - 4.09 MBKiki Sanford examines the molecule that holds the balance between life and death
Diethyl ether: Chemistry in its element
December 02, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.14 MBMichael Freemantle awakens us to the history of diethyl ether
Manganese dioxide: Chemistry in its element
November 25, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.07 MBBrian Clegg paints a picture of a compound found in ancient cave paintings and top-of-the-range electronics: Manganese dioxide
Mercury fulminate, Hg(CNO)<sub>2</sub>: Chemistry in its element
November 18, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.19 MBMichael Freemantle examines the explosive history and chemistry of mercury fulminate
Zirconium tungstate: Chemistry in its element
November 11, 2015 00:00 - 4 minutes - 3.07 MBGenerally, things get bigger as they get hotter. Neil Withers examines one of the exceptions – zirconium tungstate