Chemistry in Everyday Life – Details, episodes & analysis

Roads are one of the defining features of modern civilizations, believe it or not. To me and I think most others, the state of the roads in a country gives an idea of the level of development. It does not surprise then that chemistry features quite heavily in how we make roads.

A request from a listener, I explore in this episode the chemistry of bitumen and the physical properties needed for a good road.

This podcast is still not reactivated, but if you have a topic that you are interested in and do not mind an extended waiting time until I get round to it, drop me a mail under chem.podcast@gmail.com .

Background Information

Polymer Chemistry, An Introduction Malcolm P. Stevens, 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press, 1999; ISBN 978-0-19-512444-6 pp. 70ff & 87ff

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt_(Geologie)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt_concrete

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt

Polymer-modified Bitumen

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262691923_Polymer_modified_bitumen_Optimization_and_selection

http://oxidizedbitumen.org/primer-bitumen/asphalt-polymer

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/3215/polymer-modified-bitumen-pmb

https://globecore.com/bitumen-modification-polymers/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780857090485500018

https://bitumen.globecore.com/use-polymer-bitumen-binders-road-construction

Glass Transition Temperature

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_transition

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glas%C3%BCbergangstemperatur

Grundlagenvideo Asphalt-Straßenbau

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMeZy9ayV8

Intro Video to Bitumen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q39vKdNuJKQ

How much bitumen per kilometer of road

https://saharabizz.com/how-much-bitumen-used-in-road-construction-per-kilometre/

Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Polymer in Asphalt

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/styrene-butadiene-styrene

Video: Bier während der Arbeit? Welche Klischees über Straßenbauarbeiter stimmen? | Galileo | ProSieben

2:59 „Alle 15 Jahre muss ein Straßenbelag erneuert werden…“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpQ7ohsN2pg

It takes a little bit more than 100mg of cyanide to kill a 75 kg human being. A little more than 100mg and the unfortunate victim will show the telltale signs of “bluish tones of oxygen deprivation mottle the skin.“

Cyanide Poisoning is as old as the usage of chemical compounds containing cyanide and this episode looks at the chemistry that happens in the body during a poisoning.

“This will be the last episode of Chemistry in Everyday Life for now. It was a huge amount of fun, but for the usual reasons, I have to suspend this beloved hobby project for an indefinite period of time. I would like to thank you all for listening. I enjoyed this experience immensely and I am proud of what I achieved. Take care everyone 😊”

The Podcast will remain online for the time being, but I will not add any new content.

Sources

Historical Background

· The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York, Chapter 3, 2010, D. Blum ISBN: 978-1594202438

Cyanide Poisoning and Cyanide Chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanide_poisoning

· https://www.thoughtco.com/overview-of-cyanide-poison-609287

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanide

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histotoxic_hypoxia

Oxidative Phosphorylation and Cytochrome C Oxidase

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytochrome_c_oxidase#Inhibition

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_phosphorylation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transport_chain

Mitochondria

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrion

· https://www.thoughtco.com/mitochondria-defined-373367

Medical Treatment for Cyanide Poisoning

· https://www.drugs.com/cg/cyanide-poisoning.html

· https://www.healthline.com/health/cyanide-poisoning

In this episode I confront the horrible memory of my one and only bad car crash. I only remember fragments, but the airbag was a big part of the memory. If you want to know how explosions save lives everyday on the road, then tune in.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

Airbag Technology

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbag

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbag

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_match

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_generator

Chemicals used in Airbags

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_azide

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitroguanidine

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitroguanidin

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanidine_nitrate

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanidiniumnitrat

Density, Avogadro’s constant and the Mole

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichte

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avogadro_constant

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avogadro-Konstante

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(unit)

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mol

Further Reading on Airbags

· https://www.explainthatstuff.com/airbags.html

· http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/CourseTutorials/bb/Airbags/151_T5_07_airbags.pdf

· https://www.chemie-azubi.de/detailansicht/news/klugscheisser-wissen-wie-funktioniert-ein-airbag/

Fun video on Airbag demonstration

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc4I4hvy_hM

· General Chemistry Ebbing p. 27ff, 190-197

Side Note: Seemingly a connection to rocket fuel

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raketentreibstoff

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_propellant

Oxygen in, Carbon Dioxide out. We learn this basic paradigm about breathing from a very early age on. But how does it work? From a chemical viewpoint this is a lot of fun! So let’s look into it 😊

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

Blood, Red Blood Cells and Haemoglobin

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythrozyt

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heme

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4moglobin

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4me_(Stoffgruppe)

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyrin

The Human Respiratory System

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_system

The Bohr Effect and Haldane Effect

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haldane_effect

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohr_effect

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbaminohemoglobin

Khan’s academy explaining Bohr effect and Haldane’s effect

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHi9ctwDUnc

Coordination Chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordination_complex

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komplexchemie

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinate_covalent_bond

· https://pediaa.com/difference-between-covalent-and-coordinate-bond/

· Inorganic Chemistry by C. E. Housecroft and A. G. Sharpe 1st Edition 2001 ISBN 0582-31080-6

Smokers and Carbon Monoxide

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboxyhemoglobin

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligand

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denticity

Sickle Cell Disease

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_disease

Why does iron rust? Why does this not happen for stainless steel? How else can we protect materials from corrosion? If you want to know, listen to this episode 😉

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

Rust – Wikipedia entry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust

Corrsion – Wikipedia entry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosion

Aqua regia – Wikipedia entry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_regia

Stainless Steel - Wikipedia entry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

Protection from Corrosion - Wikipedia entry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosion_inhibitor

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passivation_(chemistry)

Galvanization - Wikipediaeintrag

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanization

Galvanic Series

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_series

Aluminium vs. Aluminum

· https://www.thoughtco.com/aluminum-or-aluminium-3980635

Video: FuseSchool – Chemistry: Corrosion

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKMgUCq3npg&t=29s

Valmont Galvanization Advertisement Video: What is Galvanizing

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6WYxkhum-s

Video: The chemistry of Galvanized Iron: Lessons in Chemistry

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5DhBPr-TKw

Other Sources

· https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/why-do-some-metals-rust-faster-others

· https://www.quora.com/Why-does-iron-rust-when-it-oxidizes-while-other-metals-stay-more-or-less-the-same

· https://www.patriotfoundry.com/news/metal-corrosion-properties-explained/

· https://www.thoughtco.com/oxidation-reduction-reactions-604037

· https://sciencing.com/effects-oxidation-copper-8613905.html

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redox

I always found the concept of energy in the human body very intriguing… or in any organism for that matter. The term energy is very abstract to me. For example, there is a difference to “having the energy to go for a walk” or “the energy to power the oven”. One phrase clearly describes energy as electricity and the other is the energy needed for an activity that we humans undertake. So what is energy in a human being or an animal?

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1 or you can leave a comment on my website. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

How is energy produced

· https://www.metabolics.com/blog/how-does-the-body-produce-energy

Adenosine triphosphate – the body’s Mars Bar

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate

ATP production under aerobic conditions

· https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553175/

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycolysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid_cycle

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_phosphorylation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_oxidation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketone_bodies

ATP production under anaerobic conditions

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermentation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_respiration

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate#ATP_recycling

What does it feel like to run low on ATP?

· https://www.verywellhealth.com/low-energy-and-atp-in-fibromyalgia-and-me-cfs-4125121

The biochemistry of muscle fatigue

· https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3964254/

Why ATP and not GTP, TTP or CTP?

· https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_did_evolution_favor_ATP_and_not_GTP_TTP_or_CTP

https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/11286/why-is-atp-the-preferred-choice-for-energy-carriers

Space. The Final frontier… a friend of mine asked me if there is chemistry in space and how it is different from the chemistry, we observe here on Earth. This is an exciting topic. So exciting that I had to make a podcast episode about it.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Please note: I made a mistake in this episode. I called the analytical method “nucleor magnetic resonance spectroscopy” accidentally “nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry”. I apologise for this error.

Sources

My usual Wikipedia starting point

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrochemistry

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrochemie

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmochemistry

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmochemie

Relevant Physical phenomena and measurements

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_light

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_circumference

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_zero

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absoluter_Nullpunkt

Analytical Techniques in Astrochemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_spectroscopy

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_astronomy

Incredible YouTube teaching video by The National Radio Astronomy Observatory NRAO

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU11DO08H5k&t=215s

The Miller-Urey Experiment

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller%E2%80%93Urey_experiment

WILD-2 comet contains basic amino acid

· https://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news115.html

Panspermia Hypothesis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia

Princeton introductory lecture notes on Astrochemistry

· https://www.astro.princeton.edu/events/spitzer_lecture_series/Lecture1.pdf

“How Stuff Works!” YouTube Video on Astrochemistry

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayFzljd1l0Q

Rencontres du Vietnam: “Search for Life: From early Earth to Exoplanets” by Masatoshi Ohishi

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q84Ow3ZkODo

Harvard Lecture: Astrochemistry at the Dawn of Star and Planet Formation by Paola Caselli (YouTube)

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGpq-yl5HtU

I always tried to avoid making an episode about making alcoholic beverages, because there is already so much great content about it and I did not see the extra value in talking about it. For this episode, I shall break this taboo, by talking about distillation. A technique that is used for making spirits, but also for so much more, which is why I only mention spirits at the end as a side note. I hope you enjoy listening to it.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

About distillation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillation

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destillation

About specific pieces of the distillation kit

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_distillation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractionating_column

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condenser_(laboratory)#Vigreux

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raschig_ring

About different theoretical topics concerning distillation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_point

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor_pressure

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoult%27s_law

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalton%27s_law

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor%E2%80%93liquid_equilibrium

About petroleum distillation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum#Formation

Youtube Videos on Whiskey Making

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNW2TJAQrCE

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR7Bt9Ei_zI

Youtube Video on Tequila Making

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmAZ0aH0P9o

Youtube Video on Rum Making

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i4_bouIZqw

You Tube Video on Bourbon

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VscpKT7tXE

Batteries are ubiquitous in daily life and I took them for granted for such a long time that I felt obliged to write an episode about them. Especially since they work thanks to a very basic concept called Redox Reactions.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

Redox Chemistry and electrochemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redox

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistry

Batteries and their construction

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_battery

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemical_cell

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_cell

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-cell

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte#Electrochemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_cell

List of battery types, rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_types

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechargeable_battery

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_battery

Samsung’s Battery Issue

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_7#Battery_faults

Excellent explanatory Videos

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV4IUsholjg

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OVtk6G2TnQ

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5McJw4KkG8

Video of a galvanic cell

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afEX2FD4Ado

From winter gloves and people with inverted organs to the effects of molecular mirror images. Chirality can be found everywhere, so it is high time to talk about it.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1. Alternatively, you can send an email to chem.podcast@gmail.com.

Sources

Wikipedia entries on Chirality and Enantiomers

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirality

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirality_%28chemistry%29

· https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chirality

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiomer

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiomer

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiralit%C3%A4t_(Chemie)

Textbook Entries on Chirality

· General Chemistry by D. D. Ebbing 5th Ed. 1996 ISBN 0-395-74415-6; p. 1002ff

· Organic Chemistry by Clayden, Warren & Wothers; p. 382ff

Thalidomide and its effect on pregnant women

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomid

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide

About the people with inversed organs

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situs_inversus

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situs_inversus

Origins of L-amino acids

Meteorite Theory (extraterrestrial influence)

· https://www.nature.com/articles/38460?error=cookies_not_supported&code=ab67c03e-1459-4eeb-a6b6-d03ee81fde42 à Meteor

· https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2667035/

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murchison_meteorite

Asymmetric Synthesis of Chirality

· https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/%28SICI%291521-3773%2819991203%2938%3A23%3C3418%3A%3AAID-ANIE3418%3E3.0.CO%3B2-V

· https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11848967/

· https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959943603704878?via%3Dihub

· https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.200290005