By the end of the 19th century, organic chemistry had been formed as a science. Interesting facts will help to better understand the surrounding world and learn how to make new scientific discoveries.
"Live" dish
The first interesting fact about chemistry concerns an unusualfood. One of the famous dishes of Japanese cuisine - "Odori Don" - "dancing squid." Many are shocked by the sight of the squid stirring in the tentacles in a plate. But do not worry, he does not suffer and has not felt anything for a long time. Freshly squid squid is placed in a bowl of rice and soy sauce before serving. Squid tentacles begin to contract. This is due to the special structure of the nerve fibers, which for some time after the death of the animal react with the sodium ions contained in the sauce, causing the muscles to contract.
Accidental discovery
Interesting facts about chemistry often concern discoveries,produced randomly. So, in 1903 Edward 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 scatter to pieces. After carrying out the necessary studies, the chemist established that in this way it is possible to create a shockproof glass. So there were the first unbreakable glasses for cars, which significantly reduced the number of injuries during auto accidents.
Living sensor
Interesting facts about chemistry tell aboutusing the sensitivity of animals for the benefit of man. Up until 1986, the miners took canaries under the ground. 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 can die. The miners listened to the singing of the bird and monitored its well-being. If the canary shows anxiety or begins to weaken, this is a signal to the fact that the mine needs to leave.
The bird did not necessarily die from poisoning, onthe fresh air quickly improved. Even special sealed cells were used, which were closed with signs of poisoning. Even today, a device that feels ore gases is not invented as finely as a canary.
Rubber
An interesting fact about chemistry:another random invention is rubber. Charles Goodyear, an American scientist, opened a recipe for making rubber that does not melt in the heat and does not break in the cold. He accidentally heated a mixture of sulfur and rubber, leaving him on the stove. The process of obtaining rubber was called vulcanization.
Penicillin
Another interesting fact about chemistry:penicillin was invented by chance. Alexander Fleming has forgotten about a test tube with staph bacteria for several days. And when he remembered her, he found that the colony was dying. The whole thing turned out to be mold, which began to destroy the bacteria. It is from mold fungi that the scientist received the world's first antibiotic.
Poltergeist
Interesting facts about chemistry can disproveMystic stories. You can often hear about old houses filled with ghosts. And the whole thing in an outdated and poorly functioning heating system. Due to carbon monoxide leakage causing poisoning, residents of the house have headaches, as well as auditory and visual hallucinations.
Gray cardinals among plants
Interesting facts about proteins. Chemistry can explain animal behavior andplants. In the course of evolution, many plants have developed defense mechanisms against herbivores. Most often they plant poison, but scientists have discovered a more subtle method of protection. Some plants produce substances that attract ... predators! Predators regulate the number of herbivores and scare them away from the place of growth of "smart" plants. Even plants familiar to us, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, have such a mechanism. For example, the caterpillar undermined the cucumber leaf, and the smell of released juice attracted birds.
Protectors Proteins
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 released from a cell infected with a virus. It does not have an antiviral effect, but it contacts healthy cells and makes them immune to the virus.
Metal smell
We usually think that coins, handrails inpublic transport, railings, etc. smell of metal. Only this smell does not emit metal, but 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 odor, you need very few reagents.
Construction material
Interesting facts about proteins.Chemistry studies proteins relatively recently. They originated more than 4 billion years ago in an incomprehensible way. Proteins are the building blocks for all living organisms, other forms of life are unknown to science. Half of the dry mass of most living organisms are proteins.
Interesting Facts. Chemistry and soda
In 1767, Joseph Priestley became interested inthe nature of the bubbles that come out of the beer during fermentation. He collected gas in a bowl of water, which he tasted. The water was pleasant and refreshing. Thus, the scientist discovered carbon dioxide, which today is used to produce soda water. After five years, he described a more efficient method for producing this gas.
Sugar substitute
This interesting fact about chemistry says thatmany scientific discoveries were made almost by accident. A curious case led to the discovery of the properties of sucralose, a modern sugar substitute. Leslie Hugh, a professor from London who studies the properties of the new substance trichlorosacrose, instructed his assistant Shashikant Phadnis to test it (test in English). A student who is not fluent in English understood this word as “taste”, which means try to taste, and immediately followed the instructions. Sucralose was very sweet.
Flavoring
Skatol is an organic compoundformed in the intestines of animals and humans. It is this substance that causes the characteristic smell of feces. But if in high concentrations, skatole smells of feces, then in small quantities this substance has a pleasant smell, resembling cream or jasmine. Therefore, skatole is used for flavoring perfumes, food products and tobacco products.
Cat and iodine
An interesting fact about chemistry - in the discovery of iodineDirectly involved the most ordinary cat. The pharmacist and chemist Bernard Courtois usually dined in the laboratory, and he was often joined by a cat who loved to sit on the shoulder of the owner. After another meal, the cat jumped to the floor, while overturning the containers with sulfuric acid and a suspension of algae ash in ethanol, which stood at the desktop. The fluids mixed, and violet vapor began to rise into the air, settling on the objects with small black-violet crystals. Thus, a new chemical element was discovered.
