Orders of magnitude, estimation and analogy in Chemistry... How do you convey to your students the scale of numbers indicated by the mole? One way is to use an analogy I've often introduced the mole using an analogy and have used many examples over the years. Here's a selection you may want to consider... Raindrops We'll change this to cubic kilometres using a conversion factor... The volume of 1 mole of raindrops will be 24 million cubic kilometres. The estimated volume of

Professor Higgs' insights have allowed scientists to probe further into the nature of matter.

From vibrant dyes to volatile disasters - trinitrophenol’s unstable legacy. Few substances in human history have been both so brilliantly useful and so terrifyingly dangerous as picric acid. This humble-looking yellow crystalline compound, formally known as trinitrophenol (TNP), has lurked in the shadowy corridors of chemistry for well over two centuries, causing as much chaos as it has progress. It’s a chemical that epitomises humanity’s knack for fiddling with dangerous thi

Simply Maths 'Completing the Square': A Step-by-Step Guide Quadratic equations are fundamental in algebra. While there are several ways to solve them, one of the most elegant and instructive techniques is through 'completing the square'. This method transforms the quadratic equation into a perfect square trinomial, making it easier to solve. Before diving into the steps, let's recall a few important concepts: Quadratic Equation: An equation of the form Perfect Square Trinomia

Professor Higgs' insights have allowed scientists to probe further into the nature of matter.

New Findings Suggest Jupiter's Moon Europa May Have Less Oxygen in Its Subsurface Ocean In a new study* that may dampen hopes of finding life in our solar system beyond Earth, recent research suggests that Europa, one of Jupiter's largest moons, might possess significantly less oxygen in its subsurface ocean than previously estimated. This discovery has implications for the moon's potential to support life, a question that has intrigued scientists and enthusiasts alike for de

9th January: Peregrine Moon Lander faces major challenges Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine Moon Lander faces significant challenges following its launch from Cape Canaveral yesterday. The mission was the United States' first attempt at a moon landing since 1972. https://www.astrobotic.com/lunar-delivery/landers/peregrine-lander/ Shortly after launch, the lander encountered issues in maintaining a stable orientation towards the sun, crucial for charging its batteries throug

The Cold Fusion Bad Boys Welcome back to "Bad Boys of Science." In the third part of the series, we look at Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, two electrochemists who stirred the scientific pot with their claim of achieving "cold fusion" – a claim that, if proven true, could have revolutionized energy production. The chemists Pons & Fleischmann. (Picture credit) In 1989, Fleischmann and Pons, working at the University of Utah, shocked the world with an astounding announce

Thomas Midgley: Unseen Consequences In this, the second episode of "Bad Boys of Science," we explore the enormous impact Thomas Midgley had on the 20th Century. Midgley's tale is a poignant illustration of the unforeseen repercussions that can arise from well-intentioned scientific endeavours. The American chemical engineer Thomas Midgley Jr. was a prodigious talent who held over a hundred patents. Two of his inventions shaped the industrial landscape of the 20th century: tet

Fritz Haber: Science & War Welcome to our new series, "Bad Boys of Science", where we look into stories of scientists whose contributions...