Is it possible to make nitric acid through the Birkeland-Eyde process using a Ruhmkorff coil?
Would It work? Is it a stupid Idea? I don't want to break my microwave to get a transformer. I know there are better ways to get nitric acid than the Birkeland-Eyde process, but i wanted to try this process at least once.
https://redd.it/1l2blvu
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Two bottles; one completely frozen, the other slush.
https://redd.it/1l27tg0
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Natural gas dew point
Hi everyone! First time posting here.
I'm a bit lost and could use some help. I need to calculate the dew point at various pressures for a standard natural gas mixture—like the one typically transported by a gas TSO. I still need to gather the correct molar fractions of the components, but the goal is to determine the dew point curve for both hydrocarbons and water as a function of pressure.
Is it possible to calculate it by hand/excel or I'm better of using a specific software?
Thanks in advance!!
https://redd.it/1l26ghp
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Best Way to Remove Dissolved Oxygen from Water
Experimenting with water based fermentation solutions, attempting to remove most if not all of the dissolved oxygen from the solution. I know I can Google it and have, but thought I might get some unique feedback from this group.
Saw bubbling it with nitrogen mentioned. But wasn't sure how that would change the composition of the solution.
https://redd.it/1l21jtn
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solid Al + CuCl2 Reaction
https://redd.it/1l1p89p
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Two questions about hydrogen peroxide
1) is there a way to make it at home? With rudimentary ingredients? If not, is there an acid that you can make at home and that might have the same properties?
2) if you pour hydrogen peroxide directly on one's hair, what will happen? Will it bleach the hair? If so, how much is needed to do that? What other reactions may happen?
I know it's technically more than two questions but I'm curious! Don't worry, I'll use it for a story I'm currently writing, I'm not gonna bleach my hair at home.
https://redd.it/1l1n8fs
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Solvent purity for TLC
https://redd.it/1l1nx0n
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Analytical scale not working
https://redd.it/1l1isft
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IA and literature search
Hi fellow chemist,
I am curious to hear the latest advances in IA assisted literature search, more specifically on finding published synthesis route.
I know probably most biggest pharma companies use IA-tool to help them plan retrosynthesis. However, the point of these tools is to help chemists to synthesize new compounds.
What are the state-of-the-art tools to search for synthesis route of already known molecules ? For example, a cosmetic colorant like CAS 68391-31-1.
By searching the synthesis route I mean to find the different required steps (like A + B to C then C + D to target molecule), ideally from a list of personal starting materials.
Being curious, I already tried to ask general LLMs to see the results and sometimes it does a good job, sometimes not really (hallucinating references for example).
By the way, if you have any recommendations for great YouTube channel on those topics or others IA chemistry related please send them :)
Thanks in advance !
https://redd.it/1l1invc
@r_chemistry
Weekly Careers/Education Questions Thread
This is a dedicated weekly thread for you to seek and provide advice concerning education and careers in chemistry.
If you need to make an important decision regarding your future or want to know what your options, then this is the place to leave a comment.
If you see similar topics in r/chemistry, please politely inform them of this weekly feature.
https://redd.it/1l1f2zv
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Uv degradation of polymers
Hi, i was researching the properties of polyester and epoxy resins and read that polyester isn't as sensitive to UV degradation as epoxy, why is it that way? I searched a bit why and when chemical bonds are sensitive to UV light but couldn't find anything conclusive. I asked chatgpt and it said that benzene rings in a molecule degrade under uv light but when i worded my question differently it said that aromatic rings make compounds stable, i'm really lost and can't reach a conclusion. If you can point me some sources or give me an explanation it will be very helpful
https://redd.it/1l1741u
@r_chemistry
Why is 1,3-Dioxole so poorely referenced? What makes this molecule unviable?
https://redd.it/1l15zry
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Looking for assistance with old machine
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1l134b1
https://redd.it/1l13rre
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Synthesis of Palladium-Bis(trimethylsilyl)amide Complex - Literature/Precedent?
I'm trying to synthesize a palladium complex with the bis(trimethylsilyl)amide ligand starting from HMDS. My proposed route:
1. Deprotonate HMDS with strong base (n-BuLi) → LiN(SiMe₃)₂
2. React with Pd precursor to form Pd-amide complex
A few questions in respect to this:
- Is there literature precedent for stable Pd-N(SiMe₃)₂ complexes?
- What Pd precursor would be most suitable (PdCl₂, Pd(OAc)₂, etc.)?
- Are these complexes likely to be stable or prone to β-elimination?
I've found plenty of examples with other metals (Fe, Mn, Co) forming stable bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complexes, but palladium-specific literature seems limited. Most Pd-HMDS work I've seen uses LiHMDS as a base/nucleophile in catalysis rather than forming isolable complexes.
Any insights on synthetic approaches or relevant literature would be appreciated. Thanks!
https://redd.it/1l11kmm
@r_chemistry
Hydrogen Metal?
I recently learned that in some planets that Hydrogen can be forced into a metallic state towards the cores because of the pressure, I was honestly really blown away by this and I'm very interested in it. Do we know any properties it would have? Would it be soft, hard, conductive, etc
https://redd.it/1l0zcth
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Decomposition of Sodium Ferrocyanide - is the danger real?
Background for this question: there used to be a product called Kasenit that was used for small scale carburization of low carbon mild steel (case hardening). It was 46% Sodium ferrocyanide and probably the rest being a binder like rosing and maybe sodium chloride. The way it was used is the part was heated cherry red then placed in the Kasenit which would then stick to it. Then it was reheated to red and quenched. It’s now off the market - I presume due to generation of hydrogen cyanide gas in that process. LD50 starts at 100ppm. What I have no clue how to calculate is how many ppm burning say 1g of 50% Sodium ferrocyandide produced. I suppose it depends upon if you were in a close container with it! As always the position is in the dose. I think we’d have heard about a lot of dead machinists over the years since this was used in large amounts for case hardening in the 20th century. Anyway - there is a new product called cherry red that has replaced it so it’s a bit of a non-issue. It’s just a bit of historical stuff that was interesting me this morning and I thought I’d bug this group with it! 😂
https://redd.it/1l29wbh
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The structure of liquid carbon elucidated by in situ X-ray diffraction
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09035-6
https://redd.it/1l27eyp
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Chemistry is just a dishwashing lesson in disguise
https://redd.it/1l256ct
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Accurate water bottle label
https://redd.it/1l1vuzf
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Why does this happen?
https://redd.it/1l1spwl
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No Cap this took me 24:18
https://redd.it/1l1omjv
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Alka Seltzer - Why the Citric Acid??
https://redd.it/1l1m86c
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2,4-dinitrophenol synthesis
https://redd.it/1l1jp9j
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Turning elements into eye candy for the classroom
https://redd.it/1l1fd1w
@r_chemistry
pH value in pools
Big sorry in advance I am not a native speaker but I will try my best.
I am not 100% sure that this is the right subreddit but I could not think of a better one.
Last summer for the last gameday of the german Bundesliga we wanted to use the pool of a friend because the weather was good. We put chlorine in the pool for obvious reasons but it didnt work because of the pH value. Atleast Google told us that it must be to high. Normaly u cant but some kind of ,,pH raiser“ in but we didnt have it and werent abled to get some.
So my ,,brillant idea“ was to put hydroghloric acid in the pool because I was doing my A Levels in chemestry and thought I knew it should work. In my head it would become H+ and CL- and we would be fine. We called a father of one of us who stopped the idea because it could be dangerous. We followed the advise because he has a PHD in chemestry and 3 weeks later I failed my A Level in chemestry so maybe it was for the better. But now I am asking myself three years later why it wouldnt work or be dangerous. To this day in my head it should work right?
https://redd.it/1l1answ
@r_chemistry
How to bring flavor out of spices when making 2:1 sugar syrups if they are not water-soluble?
Can someone explain the chemistry of “flavor”? Or direct me to a previous thread about it?
I understand this seems like a practical question, and while I am curious about that, I also am genuinely wanting to understand the chemical side of flavor compounds. This may seem “silly” for at home syrups, but I like understanding the science of things if I can.
If there is a previous thread about this, feel free to link it so I can just read that.
Please be kind! I do not have a PhD in Chem and when I’ve tried researching these things it’s been difficult to find the right articles. I’m asking here because I genuinely respect the answers I’ve read in other posts and your intelligence on the matter, so no need to be rude :) I’m just trying to learn
https://redd.it/1l16psy
@r_chemistry
chemists of reddit, how does ozone form?
So ozone in O3, but oxygen has 6 valence electrons so it would want to bond twice like oxygen gas is O2. So how does ozone even form. thx.
https://redd.it/1l14zsj
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Sourcing Sodium Nitrite in the US
Can;t seem to find any retailers that sell in smaller quantities. Any recommendations?
https://redd.it/1l13eyq
@r_chemistry
Simple Historic and modern methods for producing potassium nitrate
https://youtu.be/KX9Smfoa3CQ?si=M8lmyep9K97qFUhv
https://redd.it/1l10a0h
@r_chemistry
Acryl spray paint
2 days ago I painted the entire inside of my car door with acrylic spray in the garden. Is it safe to be in the car when the paint is dry? I need to know if the paint will not start to release harmful chemicals. For example, if I leave my car in the sun, can the paint release dangerous chemicals? When the paint is dry, will it no longer release chemicals into the air? I am worried about my respiratory system. The ingredients of the spray are: acetone, butyl acetate, 2-methoxy-1-methylethyl acetate, n-butanol
https://redd.it/1l0tabn
@r_chemistry
