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
Toluene: Chemistry in its element
November 04, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.72 MBThere's more to toluene than TNT, as Brian Clegg reveals
Guncotton or nitrocellulose: Chemistry in its element
October 28, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.15 MBFrom an apron aflame to a popular propellant, Michael Freemantle tracks the history of guncotton
Thiamine or vitamin B: Chemistry in its element
October 22, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.62 MBBrian Clegg introduces an essential nutrient, and the first to hold the name 'vitamin': Thiamine or vitamin B
Cephalosporins: Chemistry in its element
October 15, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.98 MBA story which starts knee-deep in sewage and ends with the spread of drug resistant infections like MRSA
Lewisite: Chemistry in its element
October 07, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.03 MBWouldn't it be great to have a molecule named after you? But perhaps not this week's compound, the chemical weapon lewisite
Xenon hexafluoroplatinate: Chemistry in its element
September 30, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.04 MBHayley Birch discovers the compound that opened up a wing of the periodic table for reactions: Xenon hexafluoroplatinate
Sodium azide: Chemistry in its element
September 23, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.14 MBRaychelle Burks finds out how Potbelly's patrons became poisoning patients, in the mystery of the sodium azide-laced iced tea
Gelsemine : Chemistry in its element
September 21, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.01 MBIn this week's podcast, Matt Gunther reveals the toxic history of gelsemine
Methyl salicylate: Chemistry in its element
September 15, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.4 MBIn this week's podcast, Raychelle Burks tells us of the cool but warming effects of methyl salicylate, better known as oil of wintergreen.
Antimony sulfide: Chemistry in its element
September 02, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 3.88 MBIt's at the heart of the first chemical equation, and makes Hayley Birch think of quiche. This week's compound is antimony sulfide
Isoprene : Chemistry in its element
August 26, 2015 00:00 - 7 minutes - 4.88 MBWhy do the Blue Ridged Mountains inspire so many songs? Maybe it's because of the Isoprene that gives them their blue hue...
Gluten : Chemistry in its element
August 19, 2015 00:00 - 4 minutes - 2.1 MBEmilie Steinmark tells us about gluten and gluten intolerance
2,4-Dinitrophenol: Chemistry in its element
August 12, 2015 00:00 - 7 minutes - 3.35 MBSimon Cotton explains the explosive history and the dangers to health of the weight-loss drug, 2,4-dinitrophenol
Vanadium Oxides: Chemistry in its element
August 05, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.75 MBBrian Clegg introduces an exotic chemical dynasty: the Vanadium oxides
Adrenaline: Chemistry in its element
July 29, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.04 MBSimon Cotton on the compound that turns a shrinking violet into a hero: Adrenaline
Polydimethylsiloxane: Chemistry in its element
July 22, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.9 MBBrian Clegg tells us about a silicone gel, which can sometimes be a bit silly
Carminic acid: Chemistry in its element
July 17, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.16 MBRaychelle Burks introduces a red dye with a prickly history.
Citric acid: Chemistry in its element
July 08, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.49 MBIf life hands you lemons, make lemonade – or you could make citric acid, a very useful commodity chemical according to Andrew Turley
Sodium sulfate: Chemistry in its element
July 01, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.65 MBBrian Clegg on sodium sulfate, known as 'the miraculous salt' because of its strong laxative effects.
Methanol: Chemistry in its element
June 24, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.69 MBTempted by a tipple of home-brewed moonshine? Andrew Turley examines the risks associated with drinking methanol.
Cortisol & Hydrocortisone: Chemistry in its element
June 16, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.08 MBBrian Clegg investigates a compound that calms inflamed joints and excites the stressed brain: Cortisol
Parabens: Chemistry in its element
June 10, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.95 MBBen Valsler examines the chemicals at the heart of one of the latest cosmetic & food additive scare stories: Parabens
Phosgene: Chemistry in its element
June 03, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.88 MBMatt Gunther investigates a clear, colourless gas responsible for thousands of deaths in the Great War: Phosgene
Calcium hydroxide: Chemistry in its element
May 27, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.92 MBIt rendered walls of pyramids and helps remove unwanted hair - Brian Clegg introduces a compound with many names - Calcium hydroxide
Nacre: Chemistry in its element
May 20, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.53 MBFrom a glamorous necklace to cutting edge body armour - Helen Scales investigates the properties of nacre
Hyaluronic acid: Chemistry in its element
May 13, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.95 MBBrian Clegg smooths out the wrinkles over the darling of the cosmetic industry, hyaluronic acid
Mussel adhesive proteins: Chemistry in its element
May 06, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.53 MBHow do mussels stick tight and weather the constant ocean waves? Helen Scales discovers mussel adhesive proteins
Acetylene: Chemistry in its element
April 29, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.07 MBBrian Clegg introduces a compound steeped in faded Victorian glamour – acetylene
CS gas: Chemistry in its element
April 22, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.9 MBSimon Cotton examines a compound banned in warfare but still used by police to disperse crowds: CS gas
Goethite: Chemistry in its element
April 16, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.46 MBIt's the strongest known biological material and one of the earliest pigments - Helen Scales discovers goethite
Niacin: Chemistry in its element
April 08, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.03 MBBrian Clegg discusses the vitamin found in both breakfast cereal and meteorites: Niacin
Octane: Chemistry in its element
April 01, 2015 00:00 - 7 minutes - 3.38 MBStart your engines! Simon Cotton looks into one of the few chemical names known well to the public: Octane
Fluorides: Chemistry in its element
March 25, 2015 00:00 - 7 minutes - 3.27 MBSensible approach to dental rot or sinister communist plot? Brian Clegg examines the much-maligned fluorides
Prozac: Chemistry in its element
March 18, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.19 MBSimon Cotton introduces the first of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants: Prozac
Sodium thiopental: Chemistry in its element
March 11, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.84 MBOnce thought to extract the truth and now used to enact the ultimate punishment, this week's compound is sodium thiopental
Barbituric acid: Chemistry in its element
March 04, 2015 00:00 - 8 minutes - 3.83 MBIt may have been largely superceded in the clinic but Phil Robinson discovers there is no rest yet for barbituric acid
RNA: Chemistry in its element
February 25, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.36 MBRNA may be less famous than it's more stable cousin, but is central to cellular function
Hydrofluoric acid : Chemistry in its element
February 18, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.59 MBBreaking Bad may have exaggerated its body-dissolving effects, but Katrina Krämer finds the truth about hydrofluoric acid is just as gruesome
Borax: Chemistry in its element
February 11, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.56 MBFrom lemon-fresh detergent to home made silly putty, Jenna Bilbrey expounds the virtues of borax
PEDOT: Chemistry in its element
February 04, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.84 MBBrian Clegg introduces the 'ogres' that make up transparent electronics
Grubbs catalyst: Chemistry in its element
January 28, 2015 00:00 - 4 minutes - 1.95 MBNina Notman describes the dance of olefin metathesis, and how the tempo is set by Grubbs' catalysts
Titanium nitride: Chemistry in its element
January 21, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.51 MBBrian Clegg explains how titanium nitride could protect artificial joints and pimp out your ride
Tungsten carbide: Chemistry in its element
January 14, 2015 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.58 MBMatt Gunther introduces the alloy that links armour-piercing bullets and ball point pens: Tungsten carbide
Paraquat: Chemistry in its element
January 07, 2015 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.06 MBBrian Clegg introduces a weedkiller whose name has entered public consciousness – Paraquat
Frankincense and myrrh: Chemistry in its element
December 24, 2014 00:00 - 6.35 MBIn this seasonal podcast, we look at the compounds found in frankincense and myrrh
Isoniazid: Chemistry in its element
December 17, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 4.68 MBNina Notman introduces isoniazid - an antibiotic key to treating tuberculosis
Aspartame: Chemistry in its element
December 10, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.68 MBCould this be the sweetener that causes the most online panic?
Cannabicyclohexanol: Chemistry in its element
December 03, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.35 MBUsed to make synthetic cannabis, cannabicyclohexanol may be more risky than its non-synthetic counterpart
Tramadol: Chemistry in its element
November 26, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.78 MBSimon Cotton introduces the painkiller tramadol – could this be the next banned drug in competitive cycling?
Insulin: Chemistry in its element
November 19, 2014 00:00 - 3.72 MBA protein with an impressive roster of 'firsts': Anna Lewcock introduces insulin