By the end of the 19th century, organic chemistry was formed as a science. Interesting facts will help you better understand the world around you and find out how new scientific discoveries were made.
"Live" dish
The first interesting fact about chemistry concerns unusual food. One of the famous dishes of Japanese cuisine is "Odori Donu" - "dancing squid". Many are shocked by the sight of a squid moving its tentacles in a plate. But do not worry, he does not suffer and has not felt anything for a long time. Freshly skinned squid is placed in a bowl of rice and drizzled with soy sauce before serving. The tentacles of the squid begin to shrink. This is due to the special structure of nerve fibers, which, for some time after the death of the animal, react with sodium ions contained in the sauce, causing the muscles to contract.
Random Discovery
Interesting facts about chemistry often involve discoveries made by accident. So, in 1903, Edouard Benedictus, a famous French chemist, invented safety glass. The scientist accidentally dropped the flask, which was filled with nitrocellulose. He noticed that the flask was broken, but the glass did not shatter into pieces. Having carried out the necessarystudies, the chemist found that shockproof glass could be created in a similar way. This is how the first safety glasses for cars appeared, which significantly reduced the number of injuries in car accidents.
Living Sensor
Interesting facts about chemistry tell about the use of animal sensitivity for the benefit of humans. Until 1986, miners took canaries underground with them. The fact is that these birds are extremely sensitive to mine gases, especially methane and carbon monoxide. Even with a small concentration of these substances in the air, the bird may die. The miners listened to the singing of the bird and monitored its well-being. If the canary becomes restless or begins to weaken, this is a signal that the mine needs to be abandoned.
The bird didn't necessarily die from poisoning, it quickly got better in the open air. Even special hermetic cages were used, which were closed with signs of poisoning. Even today, no device has been invented that senses ore gases as subtly as a canary.
Rubber
An interesting fact about chemistry: another random invention is rubber. Charles Goodyear, an American scientist, discovered a recipe for making rubber that does not melt in the heat and does not break in the cold. He accidentally heated up a mixture of sulfur and rubber, leaving it on the stove. The process of obtaining rubber was called vulcanization.
Penicillin
Another interesting fact about chemistry: penicillin was invented by accident. AlexanderFleming forgot about the vial of staph bacteria for several days. And when he remembered her, he discovered that the colony was dying. The whole thing turned out to be mold, which began to destroy bacteria. It was from molds that the scientist obtained the world's first antibiotic.
Poltergeist
Interesting facts about chemistry can refute mystical stories. You can often hear about old houses filled with ghosts. And it's all about an outdated and poorly functioning heating system. A poisoning carbon monoxide leak is causing headaches and auditory and visual hallucinations in the home.
Grey cardinals among plants
Interesting facts about proteins. Chemistry can explain the behavior of animals and plants. Over the course of evolution, many plants have developed defense mechanisms against herbivores. Most often, they are plants that secrete poison, but scientists have discovered a more subtle method of protection. Some plants secrete substances that attract… predators! Predators regulate the number of herbivores and scare them away from the place of growth of "smart" plants. Such a mechanism exists even in plants familiar to us, such as tomatoes and cucumbers. For example, a caterpillar undermined a cucumber leaf, and the smell of the secreted juice attracted birds.
Defenders of the Squirrel
Interesting facts: chemistry and medicine are closely related. During experiments on mice, virologists discovered interferon. This protein is produced in all vertebrates. A special protein, interferon, is secreted from a virus-infected cell. He does not possessantiviral action, but contacts he althy cells and makes them immune to the virus.
Smell of metal
We usually think that coins, handrails in public transport, railings, etc. smell like metal. But this smell is not emitted by metal, but by compounds that are formed as a result of contact with the metal surface of organic substances, for example, human sweat. In order for a person to feel a characteristic smell, very few reagents are needed.
Building material
Interesting facts about proteins. Chemistry has been studying proteins relatively recently. They arose more than 4 billion years ago in an incomprehensible way. Proteins are the building material for all living organisms; other forms of life are unknown to science. Half of the dry mass of most living organisms is made up of proteins.
Interesting facts. Chemistry and soda
In 1767, Joseph Priestley became interested in the nature of the bubbles that come out of beer during fermentation. He collected the gas in a bowl of water, which he tasted. The water was pleasant and refreshing. Thus, the scientist discovered carbon dioxide, which is now used to produce sparkling water. Five years later, he described a more efficient method for obtaining this gas.
Sugar substitute
This interesting fact about chemistry suggests that many scientific discoveries were made almost by accident. A curious case led to the discovery of the properties of sucralose,modern sugar substitute. Leslie Hugh, a professor from London who is studying the properties of the new substance trichlorosucrose, instructed his assistant Shashikant Phadnis to test it (test in English). The student, who did not speak English well, understood this word as "taste", which means taste it, and immediately followed the instructions. Sucralose was very sweet.
Fragrance
Skatol is an organic compound formed in the intestines of animals and humans. It is this substance that causes the characteristic smell of feces. But if in high concentrations skatole has the smell of feces, then in small quantities this substance has a pleasant smell, reminiscent of cream or jasmine. Therefore, skatole is used to flavor perfumes, food and tobacco products.
Cat and iodine
An interesting fact about chemistry - the most ordinary cat was directly involved in the discovery of iodine. The pharmacist and chemist Bernard Courtois used to dine in the laboratory, and he was often joined by a cat who liked to sit on his master's shoulder. After the next meal, the cat jumped to the floor, knocking over containers with sulfuric acid and a suspension of algae ash in ethanol, which were standing at the desktop. The liquids mixed, and a purple vapor began to rise into the air, settling on objects in small black-violet crystals. Thus a new chemical element was discovered.
