Compound Interest

Graphics exploring everyday #chemistry • Association of British Science Writers 2018 #science blog award 🏆 • #scicomm • Toots by Andy Brunning (npub1de8…dy6w) •

Website: https://www.compoundchem.com
Newsletter: https://compoundchem.substack.com/

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Last Notes

2026-07-16 17:45:48 CEST

On #NationalCherryDay, here’s a look at the chemistry behind cherries’ poisonous pits and the chemical differences between sweet and sour cherries 🍒 https://www.compoundchem.com/2016/07/21/cherries/
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2026-06-29 23:00:37 CEST

Many of us are relying on the welcome chill of air con during historic heatwaves 🥵 Here's a look at the chemical compounds keeping us cool in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i33/Periodic-graphics-chemistry-air-conditioning.html
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2026-06-13 22:12:20 CEST

The 2026 World Cup has kicked off! This edition's ball has fewer polyurethane panels than previous World Cup balls. Learn more about the ball's materials chemistry in this graphic: https://wp.me/p4aPLT-8VK
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2026-06-02 17:55:54 CEST

Summer thunderstorms are hitting here ⛈️ Whenever you see a flash of lightning, you’re seeing the trigger for atmospheric chemical reactions. Learn more in this graphic: https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/07/31/thunderstorms/
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2026-03-31 20:03:33 CEST

Robert Bunsen was born #OTD in 1811 🎂
The eponymous Bunsen burner was actually constructed for Bunsen by instrument maker Peter Desaga.
The burner was essential to the discovery of caesium and rubidium through their emission spectra.
https://www.compoundchem.com/2023/03/31/bunsenburner/
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2026-03-26 22:12:01 CET

On #NationalSpinachDay, this graphic looks at the real story behind spinach’s iron content: https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/07/17/spinach/
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2026-03-23 19:11:39 CET

Today is #NationalPuppyDay 🐶 If you’ve ever wondered why wet dogs smell so funky, learn about the biochemistry behind it in this graphic! https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/07/28/wet-dog/
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2026-03-20 22:20:40 CET

Spring is here in the northern hemisphere! Here's a graphic from the #PeriodicGraphic archives in C&EN looking at the pigments that give daffodils their golden glow: https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i15/Periodic-Graphics-Chemistry-Daffodils.html
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2026-03-17 13:29:51 CET

Happy #StPatricksDay! ☘️
If you’ve ever wondered why the bubbles in Guinness appear to fall instead on rising, or what gives the beer its dark colour, check out this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i11/Periodic-Graphics-Chemistry-Pint-Guinness.html
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2026-03-08 17:24:15 CET

On #InternationalWomensDay, here's another edition of Women in Chemistry History. This edition features women whose achievements in chemistry include the creation of synthetic emeralds, the impact of diet on intelligence and health, and more: https://www.compoundchem.com/2026/03/08/international-womens-day-twelve-women-from-chemistry-history-pt-8/
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2026-03-02 18:01:29 CET

It’s spring in the northern hemisphere and the crocuses are blooming. Find out more about their colours and poisonous lookalikes in this graphic: https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/03/15/crocus/
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2026-03-01 12:33:25 CET

Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity #OTD in 1896, and later shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Pierre and Marie Curie for the discovery.
See more chemistry history graphics here: https://www.compoundchem.com/this-day-in-chemistry-history/
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2026-02-21 19:15:29 CET

The first public display of instant photography took place #OTD in 1947. Here's a #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN that looks at the chemistry behind polaroid images: https://cen.acs.org/materials/Periodic-Graphics-chemistry-Polaroid-photography/102/i16
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2026-02-16 22:38:47 CET

Frog toxins are in the news with the evidence that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was posioned with epibatidine. Here's more on frog toxins and how poisonous frogs avoid poisoning themselves: https://www.compoundchem.com/2017/09/26/poisonousfrogs/
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2026-02-11 17:50:18 CET

Today is the #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience 👩‍🔬 This graphic highlights women of the periodic table, the elements they discovered, and the two elements named after women.
In addition to this, there are plenty more graphics on women in chemistry here: https://www.compoundchem.com/category/women-in-chemistry/
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2026-02-10 13:32:36 CET

Today is #WorldPulsesDay and kidney beans feature in this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN on toxins in common fruits and vegetables - did you know that uncooked kidney beans contain a toxin that can cause nausea and diarrhoea? https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/natural-products/Periodic-Graphics-Toxins-fruits-vegetables/98/i46
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2026-02-09 22:01:45 CET

Today is #NationalToothacheDay 🦷 This edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN looks at some of the chemistry behind a visit to the dentist's 🪥 https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i24/Periodic-Graphics-chemistry-dentistry.html
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2026-02-06 23:19:00 CET

On #NationalFrozenYoghurtDay, check out how froyo compares chemically to other frozen desserts in this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i29/Periodic-graphics-chemistry-frozen-desserts.html
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2026-02-05 21:30:45 CET

Today is #NationalFartDay 💨 Here's a look at some of the goaty, cabbagey and pungent compounds behind various body odours: https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/04/07/the-chemistry-of-body-odours-sweat-halitosis-flatulence-cheesy-feet/
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2026-02-03 13:28:51 CET

Sticking with yesterday’s fruity theme, February is also #NationalCherryMonth 🍒
Here’s a look at how the chemistry of sweet and sour cherries differs: https://www.compoundchem.com/2016/07/21/cherries/
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2026-01-30 21:55:50 CET

Akira Yoshino, joint winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was born #OTD in 1948. His work and that of the other laureates led to the commercial lithium-ion batteries used in phones and other devices today: https://www.compoundchem.com/2019/10/09/2019nobelchemistry/
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2026-01-29 22:24:29 CET

Today is #NationalCornChipDay! The secret to a smooth nacho cheese sauce to accompany them is a compound with an appropriate chemical formula – one of four kitchen chemistry tricks highlighted in this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/food/food-science/Periodic-Graphics-Kitchen-chemistry-hacks-explained/101/i27
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2026-01-28 17:43:53 CET

Today is #InternationalLegoDay! Here's a look at how the chemical make-up of the bricks has changed over the years, and some of the changes being made to make the plastic bricks more sustainable: https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/04/09/lego/
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2026-01-27 09:11:42 CET

Thomas Edison’s patent for the incandescent light bulb was granted #OTD in 1880. This previous edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN examines the different types of lightbulbs and how they work 💡 https://cen.acs.org/materials/photonics/Periodic-graphics-different-light-bulbs/96/i46
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2026-01-25 16:33:37 CET

Planning on enjoying a dram of whisky for #BurnsNight? Here's a look at the compounds behind the varying smoky and fruity flavours: https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/03/31/whisky/
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2026-01-23 09:30:53 CET

Gertrude Elion, joint winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, was born #OTD in 1918. During her career she developed multiple life-saving drugs 💊 https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/01/23/elion/
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2026-01-22 16:23:40 CET

Chemist Karl Ernst Claus was born #OTD in 1796. Klaus discovered the element ruthenium in 1844, naming it after the Latin for Russia.
Today, ruthenium is found in electrical contacts in your mobile phone and on the tip of fountain pen nibs ✒️
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2026-01-21 15:41:22 CET

Did you spot the aurora earlier this week?
This timely edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN looks at what causes the aurora and the science behind the different colours: https://cen.acs.org/environment/atmospheric-chemistry/Periodic-Graphics-Auroras-Colors/104/web/2026/01
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2026-01-20 09:50:48 CET

How is cheese made, and what affects the type of cheese you end up with? For #NationalCheeseLovers Day, find out more in this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN 🧀 https://cen.acs.org/food/food-science/Periodic-Graphics-science-making-cheese/100/i19
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2026-01-19 13:45:44 CET

Did you know the sound of popcorn popping isn't caused by the cracking of the corn kernel? For #NationalPopcornDay, here's a portion of popcorn science 🍿 https://www.compoundchem.com/2017/01/19/popcorn
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2026-01-16 21:22:52 CET

US ICE agents have been using tear gas on protestors in Minneapolis. There's been plenty of tear gas misinformation flying around on social media; here's a summary of the chemistry and the best way to get rid of it (TLDR: water): https://www.compoundchem.com/2020/06/09/tear-gas
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2026-01-13 14:05:53 CET

Rubber ducks – made from rubber, right? Wrong!
On #NationalRubberDuckyDay, this infographic unmasks the rubber duck's true chemical identity: https://wp.me/p4aPLT-8Uo
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2026-01-12 13:35:42 CET

Why does scum sometimes form on the surface of a cup of tea, and how does tea's stimulant effect differ from that of coffee? On #NationalHotTeaDay here are the chemical explanations! https://www.compoundchem.com/2023/04/21/tea
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2026-01-09 16:43:02 CET

In winter weather we all know salt makes icy roads less slippery, but how does that work? This edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN explains and looks at the range of different deicers used: https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i2/Periodic-Graphics-Deicers-Antifreeze.html
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2026-01-08 18:15:05 CET

Getting snow where you are? Did you know that there are 121 categories of snowflake? ❄️
This graphic is an old favourite which gives an overview of the 39 intermediate categories: https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/12/10/snowflakes/
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2026-01-07 16:16:32 CET

In the UK, 2026 is the #NationalYearOfReading. Which do you prefer: the smell of new books or of old books? 📚
Here's the chemistry behind both! https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/06/01/newoldbooksmell/
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2026-01-05 13:35:44 CET

Icy weather is hitting here this week ❄️ If you've ever wondered why snowflakes are six-sided, why ice floats on water, and what ice cores can tell us about the past climate, then check out this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/environment/atmospheric-chemistry/Periodic-Graphics-chemistry-snow-ice/98/i4
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2026-01-04 16:58:25 CET

If you’re doing #Veganuary this month, or even just aiming to eat less meat, you might be trying plant-based alternatives. How are these made and how does chemistry improve their appearance and flavour?
This edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN has the answers: https://cen.acs.org/food/food-science/Periodic-Graphics-chemistry-meat-alternatives/102/i1
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2026-01-03 15:31:03 CET

Doing #DryJanuary? If you're reaching for a beer of the alcohol-free variety, here's a look at how it's made 🍺 https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/08/24/alcohol-free-beer
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2026-01-02 09:14:35 CET

I’m a bit late with the reflective posting, but 2025 was a pretty good year for me and Ci.
Firstly, I was honoured to receive the ACS Grady-Stack award for communicating chemistry back in March. Of course, I made an infographic about it!
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2025-12-30 19:56:40 CET

I had a blast (sorry) creating this infographic on the furnaces that forge iron and steel, based on news about the UK steel industry's struggles earlier this year.
Who's getting flashbacks to drawing blast furnace diagrams in school science lessons?
https://www.compoundchem.com/2025/04/24/blast-furnace
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2025-12-29 17:17:11 CET

Fluorinated so-called "forever chemicals" continued to generate environmental and health concerns this year.
I teamed up with Agata Communications and ANEMEL to make this infographic, looking at what forever chemicals are used for, their issues, and potential alternatives: https://www.compoundchem.com/2024/12/06/pfas
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2025-12-25 15:21:52 CET

Merry Christmas, everyone!
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2025-12-24 12:14:51 CET

It's Christmas Eve and the final day of #ChemAdvent!
We're finishing off with Christmas pudding and why you shouldn't hide a coin in the mixture as was customary in the past 🪙
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2025-12-22 12:45:22 CET

Keeping warm on day 22 of #ChemAdvent 🔥
Winter fire smells come from smoky syringol and guaiacols.
Herring under a fur coat doesn't actually involve a fur coat, but a layer of beetroot and vegetables over pickled herring
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2025-12-20 10:30:23 CET

Some cracking chemistry for day 20 of #ChemAdvent!
First up are Christmas crackers, taking advantage of friction-sensitive silver fulminate to deliver a big bang 💥
For tamales, preventing cracking of the corn husk wrapping is the aim, so they're soaked in water to make them flexible 🌽
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2025-12-18 13:15:07 CET

Very contrasting smells for day 18 of #ChemAdvent!
Olibanic acid isomers contribute to the fragrance of Frankincense, traditionally associated with Christmas.
The aroma of hákarl, fermented Greenland shark, is a much less welcome one, dominated by ammonia and other pungent compounds.
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2025-12-17 18:05:28 CET

It’s #Chemistree season! Here’s one I made back in 2016. The use of an upside-down pear-shaped flask as a tree topper was, in retrospect, an unfortunate choice…
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2025-12-17 12:15:28 CET

Decorations and wrapping for day 17 of #ChemAdvent!
Baubles were traditionally silvered using the reduction of silver nitrate with glucose - a chemical test used in classrooms to detect aldehydes.
Wrapping paper and tape are both cellulose-based 🎁
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2025-12-16 08:46:00 CET

With the current surge in flu cases, here's a useful graphic examining the different viruses responsible for colds and flu 🤒
I first made this one back in early 2020 – remember when we didn't all know what a coronavirus was?
Read more here: https://www.compoundchem.com/2025/12/15/colds
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2025-12-14 12:45:12 CET

For day 14 of #ChemAdvent, we've got two fruity-themed graphics.
The first is on festive flamethrowers with orange peel and limonene 🍊 🔥
The other is on nastar, Indonesian pastry-based desserts filled with spiced pineapple jam 🍍
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2025-12-13 10:15:29 CET

St Lucia's Day links day 13 of #ChemAdvent: The saint is often depicted with a wreath of candles around her head, and in Sweden they celebrate with saffron buns (lussekatter)
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2025-12-12 12:15:33 CET

More vibrant anthocyanins link the graphics for day 12 of #ChemAdvent: they colour both cranberries and puto bumbong, steamed purple rice cakes eaten in the Phillipines at Christmas.
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2025-12-11 11:40:01 CET

For day 11 of #ChemAdvent, we have a slightly tenuous medicinal link... 💊
Theobromine, found in holly berries (and chocolate), is prescribed for persistent cough in South Korea 🇰🇷
Opioids are well known for their painkilling abilities and appear in trace amounts in poppy seed bejgli from Hungary 🇭🇺
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2025-12-10 13:42:15 CET

Two poisonous plants for day 10 of #ChemAdvent! ☠️
Brazilian farofa is made from cassava flour, itself made from cassava roots which are soaked to remove toxic cyanogenic glycosides.
Mistletoe is much less likely to be eaten but is also toxic due to the presence of toxic peptides and tyramine.
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2025-12-09 12:30:17 CET

Day 9's #ChemAdvent entries are linked by ginger - a key component of gingerbread and also one of the spices found in rooster doro wat, an Ethiopian spicy chicken stew eaten after periods of fasting, including at Christmas 🫚
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2025-12-07 22:57:25 CET

Almost forgot to share today's #ChemAdvent! Day 7's subjects are linked by milk: seasoned and spiced for eggnog, evaporated, condensed and baked for tres leches cake 🥛
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2025-12-05 10:44:39 CET

Brussels sprouts and Finnish lanttulaatikko feature in day 5 of #ChemAdvent. Their chemical connection is glucosinolates, bitter compounds in sprouts and swedes.
Genetic variations in people affect the perception of this bitterness – so if you're not a sprouts fan, that could be why!
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2025-12-03 12:14:09 CET

The chemical connection for day 3 of #ChemAdvent is furfural: adding nutty flavours to both roasted chestnuts and turrón, the Spanish Christmas sweet 🌰
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2025-12-02 14:05:02 CET

For day 2 of #ChemAdvent we look at the chemical connection between the colours of poinsettia and pomegranate – both caused by anthocyanin compounds.
These compounds also change when added to solutions of different acidity or alkalinity, giving a rainbow of colours 🌈
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2025-12-01 23:10:59 CET

A bit late kicking off #ChemAdvent day 1, but here we are!
This year I'm finding chemical connections between some previous ChemAdvent editions 🧪
First up, earthy pyrazines are the connection between the smells of chocolate and green bean casserole 🍫
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2025-11-25 21:50:31 CET

Why does skunk spray smell so bad, and what are some science-backed methods for removing the stench? The latest edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN takes a look: https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/Periodic-Graphics-makes-skunk-spray/103/web/2025/11
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2025-10-26 21:50:34 CET

It's #NationalPumpkinDay! 🎃
Why are pumpkins orange, and what do pumpkins have to do with pumpkin spice? Here are the chemical answers in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i40/Periodic-Graphics-Chemistry-Pumpkins.html
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2025-10-23 21:34:28 CEST

I'm a bit late with the customary #MoleDay infographic this year, but better late than never!
In chemistry, the mole makes it easier to describe the huge numbers of atoms, molecules, or ions that participate in chemical reactions.
Learn more in this graphic: https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/10/23/moleday
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2025-10-16 20:52:59 CEST

Why are some apples as sweet as honey while others make your face pucker? 🍎
Dive into the chemistry behind apple sweetness, tartness, and aroma in this graphic!
👉 Read more: https://www.compoundchem.com/2025/10/16/apples
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2025-10-13 21:34:18 CEST

It's mushroom season in the Northern Hemisphere 🍄
Here's a look at the chemistry of arguably the most iconic mushroom, fly agaric, and what makes them so brightly coloured and hallucinogenic: https://www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/fly-agaric
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2025-10-09 21:30:13 CEST

Today is #NationalNanotechnologyDay 🔬
Here's a look at some of the big jobs tiny particles can do in C&EN
https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i40/Periodic-graphics-chemistry-nanotechnology.html
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2025-10-08 23:00:18 CEST

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded today for the development of metal-organic frameworks, molecular sponges with applications in gas storage, water purification and more: https://www.compoundchem.com/2025/10/08/2025nobelchemistry/
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2025-10-06 21:48:49 CEST

We're firmly into autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, so it's once again time to share one of my favourite chemistry infographics on the kaleidoscope of chemical colours found in autumn leaves! 🍂
https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/11/autumnleaves
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2025-08-31 22:23:11 CEST

As summer fades, dahlias are blooming. This graphic looks at the chemical cause of their colours and why you won't spot a blue one! https://www.compoundchem.com/2021/09/12/dahlia/
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2025-08-06 22:41:03 CEST

From sunburn to swimming pools, the sun triggers chemical reactions all around us. The latest edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN shines a light on some of the molecular transformations driven by the sun's rays: https://cen.acs.org/physical-chemistry/Periodic-Graphics-Chemistry-sunshine/103/web/2025/07
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2025-07-25 20:29:40 CEST

Rosalind Franklin was born #OTD in 1920. She was a chemist and crystallographic who made a key contribution to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA: https://www.compoundchem.com/2017/07/25/franklin/
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2025-07-20 20:24:52 CEST

It's #NationalIceCreamDay!
Discover how science shapes the smooth, creamy texture of ice cream in this infographic: https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/07/14/ice-cream/
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2025-07-16 22:39:05 CEST

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I've corrected this one as I got my browning reactions mixed up in the brown sugar panel! It's corrected in this graphic and on-site.
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2025-07-11 21:53:40 CEST

It's Friday and it's #NationalMojitoDay!
Here's some of the chemistry behind this refreshing minty cocktail 🍹 https://www.compoundchem.com/2020/07/10/mojito/
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2025-07-02 22:31:55 CEST

What's Earth made of? The latest edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN journeys to the centre of Earth to look at the elements and minerals that make up our planet's different layers: https://cen.acs.org/physical-chemistry/geochemistry/Periodic-Graphics-composition-Earth/103/web/2025/06
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2025-06-02 22:03:06 CEST

How do chemists engineer flame-resistant fabrics? 🔥
Here's a look at the different types of fire retardants used and how they work in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/materials/Periodic-Graphics-Making-fabrics-fire/103/web/2025/05
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2025-05-21 22:16:52 CEST

English fossil collector and palaeontologist Mary Anning was born #OTD in 1799.
Initially, she supported herself by selling ammonite and belemnite fossils. Here's a look at the chemical processes that form these fossils, produced for Salters' Chemistry Club.
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2025-05-12 20:59:44 CEST

Dorothy Hodgkin was born #OTD in 1910. She won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her work using X-ray crystallography to determine complex chemical structures 🏅
https://wp.me/s4aPLT-hodgkin
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2025-05-08 12:01:43 CEST

Eyes are on the Vatican this week for the selection of a new Pope 💭
Specific recipes are used for the black and white smoke released to indicate the result of conclave voting – here's a look at the chemicals involved: https://wp.me/p4aPLT-8St
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2025-05-01 21:32:31 CEST

Magnets: How do they work?
The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN takes a brief look at the origins of permanent magnetism before examining the different types of permanent magnets available and how they compare: https://cen.acs.org/materials/Periodic-Graphics-Permanent-magnets-explained/103/web/2025/04
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2025-04-30 14:09:41 CEST

Happy birthday to the electron! ⚛️
#OTD in 1897, Joseph J Thomson announced his identification of the electron — the first subatomic particle to be discovered.
https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/04/30/electron/
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2025-04-25 17:18:49 CEST

Today is #NationalDNADay 🧬
Here’s a look at what makes up DNA’s structure and how the genetic code is translated into proteins: https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/03/24/dna/
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2025-04-16 18:24:40 CEST

Today is the #DayOfTheMushroom 🍄
Here are graphics on why common inkcaps and alcohol don't mix, and colourful and poisonous compounds found in fly agaric.
Inkcaps: https://www.compoundchem.com/2024/09/19/inkcaps/
Fly agaric: https://www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/fly-agaric/
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2025-04-07 16:31:25 CEST

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Alcohol-free beer chemistry is also available! https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/08/24/alcohol-free-beer/
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2025-04-07 16:23:27 CEST

It's #NationalBeerDay 🍻
Enjoy some of the chemistry behind the brewing while you watch the markets slide 📉
https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/10/beerchemicals/
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2025-04-05 22:38:37 CEST

Today is #NationalDandelionDay. Did you know that some types of dandelions can be used to produce rubber?
Find out more in this graphic: https://www.compoundchem.com/2022/05/26/dandelion/
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2025-04-02 18:41:54 CEST

I was delighted and honoured to receive the 2025 James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public from the American Chemical Society last week.
Making an infographic on the medal and those it was named after seemed a fitting way to mark the occasion! https://wp.me/p4aPLT-8RX
Thanks to all of you who read and share my work – I hugely appreciate it. I'm looking forward to continuing to share more fascinating everyday chemistry with you all!
Photo credit: EPNAC.com
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2025-03-31 15:41:04 CEST

Happy Birthday, Robert Bunsen! 🎂
He's best known for the eponymous Bunsen burner, which was actually constructed for Bunsen by instrument maker Peter Desaga. It was essential to the discovery of the elements caesium and rubidium through their emission spectra.
https://www.compoundchem.com/2023/03/31/bunsenburner/
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2025-03-27 16:15:21 CET

How do mussels stick to rocks? The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN looks at how particular amino acids in proteins play an important part in holding them fast: https://cen.acs.org/materials/Periodic-Graphics-mussels-stick-rocks/103/i8
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2025-03-26 21:02:40 CET

Today is #NationalSpinachDay 🍃
Is spinach really a good source of dietary iron? And what causes “spinach teeth”?
This graphic has the answers: https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/07/17/spinach/
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2025-03-11 13:27:53 CET

Margaret Dayhoff, bioinformatics pioneer and creator of protein and nucleic acid databases, was born #OTD in 1925. She also produced the one-letter codes for amino acids that are still used today.
Download this graphic here: https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/16/aminoacids/
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2025-03-08 10:39:01 CET

For International Women's Day, here are twelve more women from chemistry history, with achievements ranging from developing antifungal medicines to creating milk substitutes for people with lactose intolerance 👩🏽‍🔬👩🏻‍🔬
https://www.compoundchem.com/2025/03/07/iwd2025/
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2025-03-06 17:05:38 CET

It's #WorldBookDay (in the UK and Ireland, at least) 📚
Love the smell of new or old books? Here's the chemical explanation for what you're smelling!
https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/06/01/newoldbooksmell/
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2025-03-05 16:50:44 CET

Making jello, jelly, or jams? This edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN looks at the different gelling agents involved and how they work: https://cen.acs.org/food/Periodic-Graphics-Food-gelling-agents/103/i5
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2025-02-11 08:17:36 CET

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 👩‍🔬🧑🏽‍🔬
The Women in Chemistry category on the Ci site has a range of graphics on women in chemistry, both historical and present-day! https://www.compoundchem.com/category/women-in-chemistry/
#WomenInScience
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2025-01-28 20:34:57 CET

It's #InternationalLegoDay!
What's Lego made of? Why is treading on one excruciatingly painful? Why shouldn't you put 1970s Lego in your mouth?
Here's a graphic and post that attempt to answer all that: https://bit.ly/4aB1o4Z
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2025-01-06 20:13:40 CET

Tis the season for winter storms in the Northern Hemisphere ❄️
Here's why snowflakes are six-sided, why ice floats on water, and the chemistry that takes place on ice crystals high in the atmosphere in this edition of #PeriodicGraphics in C&EN: https://cen.acs.org/environment/atmospheric-chemistry/Periodic-Graphics-chemistry-snow-ice/98/i4
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2024-12-23 22:17:53 CET

This month Periodic Graphics in C&EN is a whole decade old! To mark the anniversary, here's a graphic on some of the interesting properties and uses of tin, the metal that traditionally marks tenth anniversaries: https://cen.acs.org/materials/Periodic-Graphics-Tin-years-Periodic/102/i39
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2024-12-12 22:10:31 CET

How much do you know about fluorinated "forever chemicals"?
This graphic, produced in partnership with ANEMEL, looks at where these chemicals are found, some common examples, and the concerns surrounding them: https://bit.ly/3ZwcHq1
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