Daily Archives: January 20, 2017

Water glass is the "magic" solution used to grow magic rocks. Anne and Todd Helmenstine — Water glass is the common name for an aqueous solution of either sodium silicate or potassium silicate. It’s also called “liquid glass”. It gets its name because it’s essentially glass (silicon dioxide) in water. As the water evaporates, the solution solidifies into a glassy solid. Chemical Formula of Water Glass […]

What Is Water Glass? Water Glass or Sodium Silicate Facts

This entry was posted on January 20, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on December 22, 2021)

Parts of an Atom — Learn the parts of an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons, their charges, masses, locations, and roles in atomic structure.

Learn the Parts of an Atom

This entry was posted on January 20, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on September 19, 2026)

A blueprint is a paper-based reproduction of a technical drawing in which the white drawing appears on a blue background. Blueprints are made using the cyanotype process. Franklin M. Jones, U.S. Department of State — A blueprint is a paper-based reproduction of a drawing, usually a technical drawing, such as an architect or engineer would use. Blueprints use the cyanotype process that was invented by the astronomer John Herschel in 1842. The paper (or vellum or plastic) is coated with a solution of two soluble […]

How Blueprints Work

This entry was posted on January 20, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on May 17, 2021)

Graphene is a one-atom thick honeycomb sheet composed of carbon atoms that have bonded together. Thomas Szkopek — The discovery of graphene, a honeycomb sheet of carbon, was so important it earned a Nobel Prize, yet graphene isn’t an exotic material. You can make it yourself. Here are three easy methods to try:

Easy Ways Anyone Can Make Graphene

This entry was posted on January 20, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 12, 2025)

Although Avogadro's Number is named for Avogadro, he did not invent or discover it. — Avogadro’s number (Avogadro’s constant) is the quantity of objects found in 1 mole of a sample. It is an exact number that is defined as 6.02214076×1023 mol−1. This is essentially the number of atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12. However, for most chemistry calculations, you work with atomic masses, which are commonly […]

Why Use 4 Significant Figures for Avogadro’s Number?

This entry was posted on January 20, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on December 20, 2021)