Cedrol: Chemistry in its element
Raychelle Burks explains how the scent of cedar wood can be used to destroy pests
Feb 03, 2016•5 min
Chemistry in its element
A weekly tour of the periodic table, from Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Ethidium bromide: Chemistry in its element
Kat Arney shines a light on the fluorescent DNA marker
Jan 27, 2016•5 min
Calcium carbide: Chemistry in its element
Michael Freemantle tells us of discovery that lit the homes and put the food on the table of millions of people
Jan 19, 2016•7 min
Ectoparasiticides: Chemistry in its element
Martha Henriques explains how compounds developed to keep parasites at bay may be protecting rhinos from poachers
Jan 13, 2016•6 min
Taq Polymerase: Chemistry in its element
Kat Arney reveals how high temperature bacteria provide us with the molecule that speeds up DNA sequencing
Dec 16, 2015•5 min
Ubiquitin: Chemistry in its element
Kiki Sanford examines the molecule that holds the balance between life and death
Dec 09, 2015•9 min
Diethyl ether: Chemistry in its element
Michael Freemantle awakens us to the history of diethyl ether
Dec 02, 2015•7 min
Manganese dioxide: Chemistry in its element
Brian Clegg paints a picture of a compound found in ancient cave paintings and top-of-the-range electronics: Manganese dioxide
Nov 25, 2015•7 min
Mercury fulminate, Hg(CNO)<sub>2</sub>: Chemistry in its element
Michael Freemantle examines the explosive history and chemistry of mercury fulminate
Nov 18, 2015•6 min
Zirconium tungstate: Chemistry in its element
Generally, things get bigger as they get hotter. Neil Withers examines one of the exceptions – zirconium tungstate
Nov 11, 2015•4 min
Toluene: Chemistry in its element
There's more to toluene than TNT, as Brian Clegg reveals
Nov 04, 2015•6 min
Guncotton or nitrocellulose: Chemistry in its element
From an apron aflame to a popular propellant, Michael Freemantle tracks the history of guncotton
Oct 28, 2015•6 min
Thiamine or vitamin B: Chemistry in its element
Brian Clegg introduces an essential nutrient, and the first to hold the name 'vitamin': Thiamine or vitamin B
Oct 22, 2015•7 min
Cephalosporins: Chemistry in its element
A story which starts knee-deep in sewage and ends with the spread of drug resistant infections like MRSA
Oct 15, 2015•6 min
Lewisite: Chemistry in its element
Wouldn't it be great to have a molecule named after you? But perhaps not this week's compound, the chemical weapon lewisite
Oct 07, 2015•6 min
Xenon hexafluoroplatinate: Chemistry in its element
Hayley Birch discovers the compound that opened up a wing of the periodic table for reactions: Xenon hexafluoroplatinate
Sep 30, 2015•6 min
Sodium azide: Chemistry in its element
Raychelle Burks finds out how Potbelly's patrons became poisoning patients, in the mystery of the sodium azide-laced iced tea
Sep 23, 2015•7 min
Gelsemine : Chemistry in its element
In this week's podcast, Matt Gunther reveals the toxic history of gelsemine
Sep 21, 2015•6 min
Methyl salicylate: Chemistry in its element
In this week's podcast, Raychelle Burks tells us of the cool but warming effects of methyl salicylate, better known as oil of wintergreen.
Sep 15, 2015•5 min
Antimony sulfide: Chemistry in its element
It's at the heart of the first chemical equation, and makes Hayley Birch think of quiche. This week's compound is antimony sulfide
Sep 02, 2015•6 min
Isoprene : Chemistry in its element
Why do the Blue Ridged Mountains inspire so many songs? Maybe it's because of the Isoprene that gives them their blue hue...
Aug 26, 2015•7 min
Gluten : Chemistry in its element
Emilie Steinmark tells us about gluten and gluten intolerance
Aug 19, 2015•4 min
2,4-Dinitrophenol: Chemistry in its element
Simon Cotton explains the explosive history and the dangers to health of the weight-loss drug, 2,4-dinitrophenol
Aug 12, 2015•7 min
Vanadium Oxides: Chemistry in its element
Brian Clegg introduces an exotic chemical dynasty: the Vanadium oxides
Aug 05, 2015•6 min
Adrenaline: Chemistry in its element
Simon Cotton on the compound that turns a shrinking violet into a hero: Adrenaline
Jul 29, 2015•7 min
Polydimethylsiloxane: Chemistry in its element
Brian Clegg tells us about a silicone gel, which can sometimes be a bit silly
Jul 22, 2015•6 min
Carminic acid: Chemistry in its element
Raychelle Burks introduces a red dye with a prickly history.
Jul 17, 2015•6 min
Citric acid: Chemistry in its element
If life hands you lemons, make lemonade – or you could make citric acid, a very useful commodity chemical according to Andrew Turley
Jul 08, 2015•5 min
Sodium sulfate: Chemistry in its element
Brian Clegg on sodium sulfate, known as 'the miraculous salt' because of its strong laxative effects.
Jul 01, 2015•6 min
Methanol: Chemistry in its element
Tempted by a tipple of home-brewed moonshine? Andrew Turley examines the risks associated with drinking methanol.
Jun 24, 2015•6 min
Hosted on Libsyn
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android