Chemistry Nexus
by WebElements: the periodic table on the web
Special interests threat to ozone layer?
The BBC report report that special interests in a number of developed countries wish to to be allowed to continue using a bromine containing gas, methyl bromide, for various purposes such as crop fumigation. Methyl bromide is known to destroy ozone, O3, (an allotrope of oxygen, O2) and this is being debated at an international meeting in Canada.
WebElements December 14th, 2009
Posted In: Chemistry
Might future fuel cells be nickel based?
There seems to be a possibility that nickel compounds might help in the electrolysis of water, the reaction at the centre of hydrogen fuel cells. Researchers at the Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, and at the French Atomic Energy Commission in Gif-sur-Yvette and attached a nickel compound that mimics hydrogenase enzymes (catalysts) and attached it to the surface of carbon nanotubes.
WebElements December 12th, 2009
Posted In: Catalysis, Chemistry
Tags: Hydrogen, hydrogenase, Nickel, Oxygen, water
Oxygen and Carbon Found in Atmosphere of an Extrasolar Planet
The Hubble telescope has identified oxygen and carbon in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet for the first time. The oxygen and carbon are evaporating from a “hot jupiter” planet HD 209458b, orbiting a star lying 150 light-years from Earth. HD 209458b is only 4.3 million miles from its Sun-like star, completing an orbit in less than 4 days.
This is not a sign of life!
WebElements December 9th, 2009
Posted In: Atmospheric chemistry, Chemistry
Hydrogen oxygen alloy
Researchers at the Carnegie Institution of Washington (Washington DC, USA) have managed to make a remarkable alloy of hydrogen and oxygen from water! They used X-rays to dissociate water at high pressure to form a solid mixture, that is, an alloy, of molecular oxygen (O2) and molecular hydrogen (H2).
The researchers placed some water under an extremely high pressure, about 170,000 atmospheres (17 Gigapascals), using a diamond anvil and then beamed high-energy X-rays at the water.
WebElements October 26th, 2006
Posted In: Chemistry
Osmium tetroxide bomb
The BBC report that UK and US intelligence agents foiled a chemical bomb plot in the UK. Apparently the plot was involves detonating a combination of explosive and osmium tetraoxide, [OsO4].The target is thought to be in crowded areas, possibly within a confined area, perhaps in London. The plotters apparently did not obtain any of the tetroxide, perhaps because it costs around UK pounds 100 per gram!
WebElements April 6th, 2004
Posted In: Group 8 elements
On the Constitution of the Atmosphere
This historical document “On the Constitution of the Atmosphere” by John Dalton was presented to the Royal Society in March 1826.1
This is an interesting read for anyone and thanks to the Royal Society for its service that makes these documents available to all.
References
WebElements February 24th, 1826
Posted In: Atmospheric chemistry, Chemistry, History of chemistry
Tags: air, John Dalton, Nitrogen, Oxygen