Monthly Archives: November 2017

Alfred Nobel (1833 - 1896) — December 10 marks the passing of Alfred Nobel. Nobel was a Swedish chemist and entrepreneur who invented the explosive known as dynamite. He was attempting to create a method to make nitroglycerin safer to use and handle. The success of dynamite and his patents made him a wealthy man. On […]

Today In Science History – December 10 – Alfred Nobel

This entry was posted on November 30, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on May 16, 2021)

Fritz Haber — December 9 is Fritz Haber’s birthday. Haber was a German chemist who discovered a process to create ammonia from atmospheric gases. The Haber-Bosch process is a reaction that fixes nitrogen to form ammonia (NH3) from nitrogen gas (N2) and hydrogen gas (H2) under pressure over an iron catalyst. Haber discovered […]

Today In Science History – December 9 – Fritz Haber ...

This entry was posted on November 30, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on December 9, 2021)

Jan Ingenhousz (1730 - 1799) — December 8 is Jan Ingenhousz’s birthday. Ingenhousz was a Dutch scientist who made the first step to understanding plant respiration or photosynthesis. English chemist Joseph Priestly had recently demonstrated that plants give off oxygen. Ingenhousz expanded this research by noting that plants not only give off oxygen but absorb carbon […]

Today In Science History – December 8 – Jan Ingenhousz ...

This entry was posted on November 30, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on December 8, 2021)

December 7 marks the passing of Walter Noddack. Noddack was a German chemist who searched for two elements missing from Mendeleev’s periodic table. The two blank placeholder elements appeared underneath manganese called eka-manganese and dvi-manganese. (eka means 1 and dvi means 2 in Sanskrit). Together with Ida Tacke (who would […]

Today In Science History – December 7 – Walter Noddack

This entry was posted on November 29, 2017 by Todd Helmenstine (updated on January 21, 2023)

Glassware Chemistree — A chemistree is a festive and educational holiday decoration. There are several ways to make a chemistree, so no matter what materials you have, you can celebrate the season with chemistry! Chemistry Glassware Chemistree If you have access to a laboratory, a glassware chemistree is stunning. The basic idea is […]

5 Ways to Make a Chemistree Christmas Tree

This entry was posted on November 29, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on January 18, 2022)

What Is Energy? Definition and Examples — Get the definition of energy in science, especially physics and chemistry, along with examples of different forms of energy.

What Is Energy? Energy Definition and Examples (Science)

This entry was posted on November 27, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on November 23, 2022)

Table salt is hygroscopic and may be deliquescent at high temperature and humidity. (Artem Beliaikin) — Deliquescence Definition Deliquescence refers to the property of a substance to absorb water from the air to dissolve itself and form an aqueous solution. Materials with this property are termed deliquescent. Deliquescent materials are a class of hygroscopic substances. Other types of hygroscopic materials may absorb water, yet not dissolve. In order to be deliquescent, […]

Deliquescence Definition and Examples – Absorbing Water and Dissolving

This entry was posted on November 27, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on October 10, 2021)

Who Is the Father of Chemistry — The answer to the question "Who is the father of chemistry?" depends on who you ask. Learn about chemists called the father of the science.

Who Is the Father of Chemistry?

This entry was posted on November 27, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on January 24, 2022)

Data from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko or the Rosetta Comet tells us how a comet smells. ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team — The Rosetta probe made incredible discoveries about comets by taking measurements of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Its ROSINA instrument (Rosetta Orbiter Sensor for Ion and Neutral Analysis) included two mass spectrometers that determined how a comet smells. If you think it smells like a dirty snowball, guess again (unless you find that snowball at […]

What Does a Comet Smell Like?

This entry was posted on November 27, 2017 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on January 30, 2022)