What reaction am I looking st?
https://redd.it/1m7wbrl
@r_chemistry
I rescued my water logged phone with science!
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1m7oytf
https://redd.it/1m7p33r
@r_chemistry
Polyanaline(PANI) synthesis
https://redd.it/1m7odnm
@r_chemistry
I don't understand the Black Body experiment
I just finished my first semester in my Chemistry couse and, during one of my General Chemistry classes, my professor explained to us extremily briefly about the black body experiment. I was already interest in quantum chemistry, so I decudee to ask him if he had any book recomendations about it and he told me to read McQuarrie's "Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach".
I just started reading it and McQuarrie starts by talking about the blacl body experiment and defining what is a black body. My problem is, I don't really understand what is the concept of a black body. I know it's theoretical and absorbs all wavelengths, but at the same time it emits all wavelenghts? How exactly does that work? Does anyone have another way of explaning it? I really like this subject and I really want to understand it, but I'm strugling with this part and I feel like I won't be able to understand the rest of this book if I'm not able to understand this part.
(Also, sorry for any gramatical war crimes. English is not my first language)
https://redd.it/1m7kpws
@r_chemistry
Cobalt crystal formation
https://redd.it/1m7ixkl
@r_chemistry
BPA Replacements Opinion
Hi Chemistry subreddit!
I have a genuine concern/question about BPA-free products.
Background: I used to do R&D in the industrial coatings business (US-based) One of the projects that we started before I left was to reduce the amount of free BPA in our coatings due to upcoming regulations. The solution was to use a BPA offset, such as BPF or BPS in the resin building reaction which essentially created the exact same product (although slightly pricier).
My question is, from someone who works in the plastics industry, is why regulations don’t try and target harmful chemicals and their derivatives, rather than just one chemical? (Mainly, just money from my perspective).
My understanding is that companies use derivatives to get past regulations since there are less studies to prove that derivatives are equal to or less harmful than the parent chemical. The US does use the “you can use it until proven harmful” way of regulation, but as a consumer, it just seems like an advertising ploy rather than real solutions to potentially harmful products.
https://redd.it/1m7bcdv
@r_chemistry
Running high-pressure reactions inside a glovebox – what vessel setups do you use?
https://redd.it/1m77o0r
@r_chemistry
MCT oil causing plastic petri dishes to fracture
https://redd.it/1m73pye
@r_chemistry
Can You Use Pure Oxygen To Devolve Carbon Deposits in ICE?
As far as i’m aware this isn’t in violation of any rules but i apologize if this is the wrong place to ask, but it’s definitely not something i can address in a mechanic/car advice sub. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME: Pure oxygen + high temperatures is a recipe for disaster and probably an explosion. you could easily hurt yourself or others. ps. i’m an amateur chemist at best, forgive me if i get some terms wrong.
To address the main question, because carbon deposits in internal combustion engines are made up of primarily hydrocarbons that aren’t or minimally oxidized, could they not be oxidized and essentially “evaporated” away or loosened with pure(ish) oxygen gas?
i’m aware that diamonds can be “evaporated” using pure oxygen and heat (500c+) turning it into CO2, but what if our goal wasn’t to completely evaporate the carbon, but make it brittle and combustible. i assume this is also possible as when you have a heap of coal just sitting out, eventually it will become brittle and dusty. however due to the restricted natural airflow in an engine this does not happen.
if the engine was already up to operating temperature (90-110c+), and off as to not cause an explosion, would pumping in oxygen not have a significant effect on carbon deposits? i also assume pumping oxygen though the exhaust would have deeper penetration into the combination chambers and the injectors themselves (in DI vehicles) since exhaust valves often default open when the engine is off. further pumping oxygen into the intake would clean off intake valves in direct injection engines that don’t clean themselves with fuel.
I’m not sure that pure oxygen would work or if this might just be a waste of time and resources (i’m not going to try it) since diesel engines do something similar to be cleaned. “HHO” cleaning, where apparently high temperature (400c+) Oxygen and Hydrogen is pressurized and pushed through the engine in order to clean it.
let me know what i might be right about, or more likely, am completely off base about in regard to how these reactions might function? thanks in advance!
https://redd.it/1m71yu5
@r_chemistry
Why does the way that substances mix yield different reactions?
So I'm going to keep the short. I was curious on how soap was made and watched a video explaining the process. In that video, the narrator said to pour lye into the water, and not vice-versa. They said that if you pour water into lye, it would result in a volcanic-esque eruption. Why exactly would the order in which substances are mixed result in a completely different reaction?
https://redd.it/1m6yym8
@r_chemistry
Is it normal to be asked microbiology questions for a chemistry lab technician position?
Hi everyone, I need your opinion on something that happened to me recently.
I applied for a job as a laboratory technician, and in the job description, they asked for a degree in either chemistry or biology. I have a degree in chemistry, so I went to the interview thinking the focus would be on chemistry-related tasks.
But during the interview, they started asking me microbiology questions — like how to analyze a sample to identify which bacteria it contains, and whether I can name and differentiate between specific bacteria. I explained that I only have general knowledge in microbiology because my specialization is chemistry.
Then they told me that even if you're a chemist, you should already know that.
Is that really expected in this kind of job? Or were they actually looking for someone with a microbiology background?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
https://redd.it/1m6tbu9
@r_chemistry
Disappearing (not invisible) ink
When I was a kid (rotary phones, carbon paper, manual typewriters, pay phones, Hi Fi's, hula hoops, etc.) we could buy disappearing ink. I am NOT talking about invisible ink. You could spray/spill this on someone's clothing as a prank and after a minute, it would disappear. How can it be made today? Is it safe? (Note that Gilbert Chemistry sets when I grew up included Sulfuric Acid, Sodium Cyanide, Mercury, Lead, etc.)
https://redd.it/1m6n1q7
@r_chemistry
HELP! Calling all chem nerds
Any idea how to make 4-methoxy-1-nitrobenzene back into a benzene using only ch3cl and one pi bond as the only carbons (any in organic reagents)? Feeling some Williamson ether or epoxide action.
It’s retro syn I bombed it on the test, tryna get half credit back by tn. Can post a visual pic if needed
If u help i owe u my soul fr
https://redd.it/1m6mqes
@r_chemistry
Are these salt crystals?
https://redd.it/1m6hwv6
@r_chemistry
What topic were you poorly taught at university, but is critical now?
I'm a graduated bachelor of chemistry and now work at pharmaceutical industry. Lately my colleagues and I discussed about buffer solutions and how to count H+,if you need to change pH. I understood I have a poor vision of that in my head, but I totally remember we studied it during the first year of university.
I think the problem is the real big volume of information you get through all of years in university.
So guys, can you remember some of the same topics, that you needed to refresh in your memory or maybe even study as you started to work once you graduated.
Thank you for answering!!!
https://redd.it/1m64a5h
@r_chemistry
I think I smelled something... my mask did not filter.
https://redd.it/1m7uweb
@r_chemistry
What are some unwritten chemistry lab rules?
https://redd.it/1m7odf3
@r_chemistry
Albert Koch author, Germany. Can’t find any trace?
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie50364a005
https://redd.it/1m7oqjz
@r_chemistry
White House moves to kill chemical safety board, despite industry support
https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/White-House-moves-kill-chemical/103/web/2025/07?sc=250723_news_eng_cennews_cen_Member&elqE=15207&elqC=9151
https://redd.it/1m7jcfu
@r_chemistry
Gold can be heated to 14 times its melting point without melting
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2489578-gold-can-be-heated-to-14-times-its-melting-point-without-melting/
https://redd.it/1m7boke
@r_chemistry
Why does metal ion leaching from PLA composites increase in basic conditions?
I’m working on a thesis that investigates the leaching of metal ions (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺) from 3D-printed PLA composites in acidic, neutral, and basic media using voltammetry.
Surprisingly, I’m observing higher leaching in basic (NaOH) conditions compared to acidic (HCl, H₂SO₄) conditions, especially for CuO and ZnO composites.
Any ideas why this might be the case? Could base-catalyzed PLA degradation or hydroxide complexation be the cause?
Would appreciate insights from anyone with experience in polymer stability or nanocomposites.
https://redd.it/1m7an9p
@r_chemistry
JACK Y SU NOVIA
https://redd.it/1m776tl
@r_chemistry
Requisite courses for PhD in medicinal chem?
Hi! Im interested in applying to a medicinal chemistry doctorate program eventually. Im currently a chem teacher and wondering which undergrad courses does a doctorate program in med chem expect you will have completed? I assume gen chem, organic chem and biochemistry, but what else? Physics? Calc 1? Biochem? Thanks.
https://redd.it/1m72oqk
@r_chemistry
Having problems with my PhD supervisor and apparently my professor (?)
Well hey, this is my first ever post on Reddit so I’ll to be as clear as possible.
Last year I graduated with a BSc in Chemistry and after an existential crisis I decided to not move abroad (2024 was really not my year lol), although I was accepted to Leuven University in Belgium for a MSc in Chemistry. After some thought, I decided to stay in Greece and do my MSc with the same professor I did my thesis with. During my thesis the vibe was really good in the lab but I couldn’t dedicate much due to the fact that I was also working in order to save up some money. The professor and I had a conversation last year about the MSc and he informed me that I should stop working and put my everything in the lab. I was fine with it, Organic Chemistry has been my passion for quite some years and I really wanted to do the best for me. I stopped working, started my MSc and it has been approximately a year since the start of it. Two days ago, my professor called me in his office to discuss some things. I knew something was off, but I really didn’t know that there was such a big problem. Apparently the professor called me lazy and not being able to focus on anything in the lab. I’ve almost completed two projects and he’s now telling me that he doesn’t trust my results because “They’re too good to be true”. I know my PhD supervisor has something to do with it, because he never really liked me. He barely even helped me in the first place, always complaining about his other responsibilities etc. I would also should highlight the fact that I’m in the lab from 9 am to 8 pm almost everyday and almost every other weekend in order to finish some extra work in time to check for any possible mistakes. I really don’t know what to do. My PhD supervisor is one of my professor’s favourite lab members and he trusts him so yeah. I’m really trying to keep everything together but I feel like this completely shattered my dreams. I haven’t talked to anyone and I’ve been pushing everyone away these last days, because no one really seems to care. I never had any problems with other supervisors from the two internships I’ve had. Everyone was always so satisfied with my work,calling me hardworking and overachiever and I was even offered a job position before even finishing my BSc.
I really need some advice, xx
https://redd.it/1m70250
@r_chemistry
Complex Solution Calculator
I want to end up with a solution of a specific concentration. I have multiple solutions of different concentration with the same solvent and different solutes. Some of the solutes are limiting in supply.
Does anyone know a good complex solution/dilution calculator or can point me towards the maths required to solve my problem?
https://redd.it/1m6ujgo
@r_chemistry
Chemistry or Medical Laboratory Science B.S.
Hello, I am a high school graduate taking a gap year. I want to major in Pharmaceutical Science (B.S.) and pursue my Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology at URI. Unfortunately, my GPA is currently low at 2.5, which led to my rejection from the program. I am applying to a community college with the goal of transferring to URI later. Do you think it’s a good plan to major in Chemistry for the first half of the semester at the community college before transferring to the Chemistry program at URI?
https://redd.it/1m6pg5w
@r_chemistry
Is industry experience less or as valuable as university research?
I only had 1 year of research experience (individual research, not published), and do not have the money to go back to college just for research experience.
If i go into industry, depending on what i do will that substitute for research experience when being considered for positions higher up?
https://redd.it/1m6mq0h
@r_chemistry
vitamin c clock reaction but I F it up big time
I am pretty amateur at chemistry. i saw that the iodine clock reaction could be done using vitamin c and iodine tincture, what I did was use providone iodine. i am not that confident in my concentration measurements. I did get colorless to purple on heating it. any guidance on how to properly perform this experiment would be greatly appreciated
https://redd.it/1m6krkl
@r_chemistry
Hi, I want online courses that would support my degree in laboratory chemistry
Hi, as the title said my degree is a diploma in Applied Laboratory Chemistry. I want to join courses that would support my degree in anyway.
Let's say how to deal with accidents in labs, Advanced Trauma Life Support and such
Tbh I need guidance, I am kinda lost, open to your suggestions. And thank you in advance
https://redd.it/1m6gelb
@r_chemistry
What should i study for the international chemistry quiz/ICQ?
im in year 10 so intermediate and i just wanted to know what i should know before doing the quiz and what to study? im already doing kahn academy high school chemistry if that matters at all, im currently on lesson 3 of isotopes and ions and id say i have a fairly good grasp of that. also how hard is the quiz? im aiming to get credit at least btw. also i already think the answer is yes but do you think my future university (i wanna go to otago university btw but whichever lets me in i guess) would care that i did the ICQ?
https://redd.it/1m651n6
@r_chemistry
