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A World Without Chemistry - How Possible?

A day without chemistry will be as bleak as soot because we would not have our light bulbs, vaccines, etc. Almost everything in our daily lives depends on chemistry, from the food we eat to the antibiotics and vaccines we take, down to the emotions we feel or even the air we breathe.

Imagine taking all these things away; life will lose its color and spice. We might even lose life! 

Why Chemistry?

Chemistry is simply the scientific study of the behavioral property of matter. From elementary sciences, matter is anything that has weight and inhabits space. Chemistry encompasses everything surrounding us. Chemists take one form of matter and obtain something new from it.

They extract basic materials like oil or ores from the earth and use them to produce other commodities, such as crude oil, petrol, and iron. They also take more complex forms of matter and turn them into materials used as high-tech components. In essence, chemistry transforms the world into a better place.

What Are Some Cool Chemical Reactions?

Are you aware that boiling an egg is a chemical reaction? A chemical reaction leads to a chemical transformation of the substances involved. The liquid composition of the egg was converted to solid, hence a chemical reaction. While some reactions are simple, like hard-boiling of egg, others are more complex and require controlled conditions to see the results. Especially where the reaction could result in fire, toxic gases, or an explosion. 

It is safer to observe these reactions from a distance, like viewing them online. Some of these reactions include:

Sodium acetate or Hot Ice:

Sodium acetate is a chemical that can be supercooled, meaning it can remain a liquid at temperatures below freezing. When supercooled sodium acetate hardens on a surface, it generates towers and other intriguing structures. Because the chemical crystallizes at room temperature, it is also known as "hot ice" because the crystals resemble ice cubes.

Fire Rainbow:

The ions in metal salts produce a rainbow of colors when heated. The metals are heated in a flame, resulting in colored fire. While you can't mix different metals to generate a rainbow fire effect, you can line them up in a row to receive all of the visible spectrum's hues.

Thermite and Ice:

Do you know that fire and ice could result in a BOOM?

When thermite is placed on top of the ice and lit with a flame, the ice instantly catches fire, releasing a significant amount of heat in the form of an explosion.

What Chemistry Experiments Can I Perform at Home?

Not all chemical reactions occur with loud eruptions, smokes, or sparks. Some are so subtle that we are unaware of when they occur. You can tap into the wondrous world of chemistry and carry out a safe DIY experiment at home. 

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment

This experiment involves a reaction that releases heat (exothermic) and produces gas.

Materials:

an empty plastic bottle

1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide 

1 pkg of yeast

1/4 cup of warm water

dish soap

a cup

food coloring

Pour the peroxide into the bottle and add a few drops of food coloring. Add a spurt of your dish soap and shake the bottle to mix. In a cup, mix the water and yeast and shake for a while to combine. Move the yeast and water combination into the bottle containing the peroxide. As the reaction completes, you can see and feel the foam that erupts.

Rubber egg

Do you know you can make an egg bounce?

Materials:

hard-boiled egg, with the shell on

a glass of vinegar.

Immerse the egg in the vinegar and wait for bubbles to form on the surface. Allow the egg to sit undisturbed for at least a day. Observe how some scum forms around the body. Rinse the egg in water after removing it from the vinegar. The shell will be rubbed away. Poke the egg with your finger and gently squeeze it. The egg feels soft and rubbery.

How Can I Make Studying Chemistry Fun?

There are different ways to make learning chemistry more fun and understandable.

Firstly, video materials are essential. Utilize the benefits of YouTube.

Also, chemical experiments matter; they link the practical to the theory.

Correlate chemistry with everyday life; the water you drink is composed of a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.

Ask lots and lots of questions: When you get stuck while trying to balance a chemical equation, do not give up; seek help. 

At Superprof, you can reach out to a tutor in your confusion. The fantastic thing is you get answered at lightning speed. It is a great application that allows students to quickly locate a teacher based on their area. It provides a large community of tutors operating in 39 countries and 18 languages.

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