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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Psilocybin & Mescaline: Chemistry in its element
November 12, 2014 00:00 - 5.31 MBSimon Cotton explores our hallucinogenic horizons with psilocybin and mescaline
Selenium dioxide: Chemistry in its element
November 05, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.57 MBIt smells of 'rotting horseradish' but gives glass a magnificent red colour – Brian Clegg shines a light on selenium dioxide
Human growth hormone: Chemistry in its element
October 29, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.51 MBMarketed as a path to eternal youth but banned in professional sports, Hayley Simon introduces human growth hormone
Magnesium chloride: Chemistry in its element
October 23, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.58 MBIt may have no common name, but as Brian Clegg explains, magnesium chloride has many common uses
Acetone peroxide: Chemistry in its element
October 15, 2014 00:00 - 4 minutes - 2.22 MBSimon Cotton takes us back to a dark day in UK history, to highlight a terrible use of acetone peroxide
MDMA: Chemistry in its element
October 09, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.65 MBThe drug that fuelled rave culture may yet be a treatment for PTSD. Hayley Simon introduces MDMA
Ethane: Chemistry in its element
October 02, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.38 MBWhy would a simple molecule used to produce plastics excite astronomers? Brian Clegg introduces ethane
Tantalum pentoxide: Chemistry in its element
September 24, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.98 MBLars Öhrström explains how tantalum(V)oxide banished 'the brick' and allows your mobile phone to fit in your pocket
Sodium alginate: Chemistry in its element
September 17, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.76 MBWhen Brian Clegg's acid reflux strikes, he knows he can rely on help from this compound: Sodium alginate
Trimethylamine: Chemistry in its element
September 10, 2014 00:00 - 3.35 MBIt reeks of rotting fish but finds use in a range of applications - Jenna Bilbrey introduces trimethylamine
Phenol: Chemistry in its element
September 03, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.82 MBPhenol, that mainstay of the chemical industry, was a familiar smell around the house in soap. Brian Clegg reveals all
Glycerol: Chemistry in its element
August 27, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.68 MBSimon Cotton describes one of his favourite school chemistry experiments, involving this week's compound: Glycerol
Osmium tetraoxide: Chemistry in its element
August 20, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.15 MBIt's highly toxic but essential for studying detailed structures of cells. Brian Clegg introduces osmium tetraoxide
Magnesium oxide: Chemistry in its element
August 13, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.46 MBYou may have created it in a fiery flash or taken it to soothe a burning stomach. Simon Cotton on magnesium oxide
Antifreeze glycoproteins: Chemistry in its element
August 06, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.74 MBWhy don't fish freeze in sub-zero seas? Helen Scales introduces the compounds that protect them - antifreeze glycoproteins
Isoamyl acetate: Chemistry in its element
July 30, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.59 MBIt makes a sweet banana-flavoured treat, but can ruin home brewed beer; Jenna Bilbrey introduces isoamyl acetate
Bisphenol A: Chemistry in its element
July 23, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.55 MBThe science is far from settled, but this week's compound – bisphenol A – is facing bans across the world
Tributyltin: Chemistry in its element
July 16, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.48 MBHelen Scales investigates tributyltin, banned from use as anti-fouling paint for causing 'imposex' in marine life
Desomorphine: Chemistry in its element
July 09, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.45 MBFrom potential painkiller to kitchen-cooked heroin replacement, Nate Adams tracks the history of desomorphine
Squalene: Chemistry in its element
July 02, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.3 MBIt helps keep sharks afloat, but may be partly responsible for their declining numbers: Helen Scales introduces squalene
Albumin: Chemistry in its element
June 25, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.38 MBNathan Adams introduces a confusingly-named protein that's essential for keeping blood flowing: Albumin
Vermilion: Chemistry in its element
June 18, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.73 MBNeil Withers finds out how vermilion has been keeping human civilisation looking bright and beautifully red for centuries
Pyridine: Chemistry in its element
June 11, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.79 MBBrian Clegg holds his nose to examine one of the real workhorses of the organic chemistry lab: Pyridine
Cytochrome P450: Chemistry in its element
June 04, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.48 MBNathan Adams investigates some of the most important molecular machines within our cells, the cytochrome p450 enzymes
Ammonium dichromate: Chemistry in its element
May 28, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.13 MBBrian Clegg reminisces about indoor fireworks and Vesuvian fire with this week's compound: Ammonium dichromate
Melatonin: Chemistry in its element
May 22, 2014 00:00 - 4 minutes - 2.01 MBMeet melatonin, the 'Dracula of hormones', essential in regulating the body's natural circadian rhythm
Naphthalene: Chemistry in its element
May 14, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.88 MBOnce a fusty way of keeping moths out of clothes, Brian Clegg explains how naphthalene may have helped bring life to Earth
Diphenyl oxalate: Chemistry in its element
May 07, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.35 MBNature has a range of ways to create bioluminescence. Not to be outdone, chemists create their own glow with diphenyl oxalate.
Tannins: Chemistry in its element
April 30, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.85 MBThey are the compounds that link leather trousers to a nice cup of tea - Brian Clegg introduces tannins
Prolactin: Chemistry in its element
April 23, 2014 00:00 - 4 minutes - 2.19 MBAnna Lewcock finds out how pigeons played a major role in discovering an important pituitary hormone, prolactin
Luminol: Chemistry in its element
April 16, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.54 MBAmongst the fictional forensic equipment shown on television, Brian Clegg notices one distinctly non-fiction stalwart: Luminol
Dichloromethane: Chemistry in its element
April 09, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.52 MBIt smells sweet, is potentially lethal and organic chemists rely on it: Emily James on dichloromethane
Dibromoindigo: Chemistry in its element
April 02, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.61 MBPurple was once a colour only royalty could afford to wear. Hayley Birch investigates tyrian purple, or dibromoindigo, the original purple dye
Batrachotoxin: Chemistry in its element
March 26, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.63 MBStephen Wallace introduces batrachotoxin, a deadly toxin that comes from a beautiful little frog
Helium hydride: Chemistry in its element
March 19, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.03 MBBrian Clegg introduces the first compound to ever exist - helium hydride
Streptomycin: Chemistry in its element
March 12, 2014 00:00 - 7 minutes - 3.31 MBSimon Cotton introduces the first antibiotic known to kill TB: Streptomycin
Alum: Chemistry in its element
March 05, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.83 MBLars Öhrström delves into the history of alum, a compound linked to some of Europe's most infamous families
Hirudin: Chemistry in its element
February 26, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.44 MBHelen Scales investigates hirudin, a powerful anticoagulant found in leech saliva
Ketamine: Chemistry in its element
February 19, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.59 MBSimon Cotton explores a dance-scene drug that was designed for horses, ketamine
Ethene: Chemistry in its element
February 12, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.64 MBHayley Birch discovers the compound that links explosive anaesthetics, plastics and ripe bananas: Ethene
Lactose: Chemistry in its element
February 05, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.51 MBLactose intolerance leads to unpleasant and antisocial symptoms. Lars Öhrström finds out why
Tetrahydrogestrinone: Chemistry in its element
January 29, 2014 00:00 - 7 minutes - 3.3 MBSimon Cotton investigates tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a designer steroid that sparked a sporting scandal
Acetaldehyde: Chemistry in its element
January 22, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.96 MBBrian Clegg meets a simple organic compound with a reputation for being something of a bruiser
Paracetamol: Chemistry in its element
January 15, 2014 00:00 - 6 minutes - 2.8 MBSimon Cotton looks back at the history of one of our favourite painkillers, paracetamol
Conotoxins: Chemistry in its element
January 08, 2014 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.33 MBHelen Scales finds out how unique toxins found in deadly cone snail stings could herald the next generation of painkillers
Boron nitride: Chemistry in its element
December 17, 2013 00:00 - 7 minutes - 3.37 MBBrian Clegg explains how the versatile compound boron nitride may be 'the best kept secret in all of chemistry'
Glyphosate: Chemistry in its element
December 11, 2013 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.65 MBA popular way to weed out unwanted pest plants, Jen Newton introduces Glyphosate
Guaiacol: Chemistry in its element
December 04, 2013 00:00 - 5 minutes - 2.36 MBThis week, Ben Valsler investigates the smoky compound that links whisky, kippers, bacon, hot dogs, coffee, creosote and cough syrup
Hexenal: Chemistry in its element
November 27, 2013 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.18 MBFor many, it's the smell of spring and summer. But hexenal - responsible for the aroma of freshly cut grass - makes Simon Cotton think of cricket.
Potassium bromide: Chemistry in its element
November 20, 2013 00:00 - 6 minutes - 3.02 MBDid chemistry help control tension in the trenches? Brian Clegg investigates potassium bromide