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No, you shouldn’t pour acetone down the drain - and for very good reason. As acetone is highly flammable, it could potentially ignite and cause an explosion. It can also damage plastic plumbing and contaminate drinking water and the environment.To prevent this, always follow the manufacturer's guidelines when disposing of acetone. No matter how tempting, never simply pour it down...
Chromatography is an important analytical technique that’s used to separate a mixture into its individual components.Its invention has contributed to scientific advances in various fields including the agricultural sector, biotechnology, food science, pharmaceuticals, and the chemical manufacturing industry.In this article, we explain the principles behind chromatography and provide step-by-step instructions so you can perform your own simple experiment. It’s a...
Although white spirit and methylated spirit are both solvents, they’re chemically different. White spirit is a petroleum-based solvent, while methylated spirit is an ethanol-based solvent with a methanol additive (hence the name, methylated spirit).Unlike other solvents, both white spirit and methylated spirit can effectively dissolve cured paint. This makes them very useful for removing dry paint stains from clothing and...
History and popular culture largely credit the discovery of the structure of DNA to the American biologist James Watson and the English physicist Francis Crick. They jointly received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with fellow scientist Maurice Wilkins.However, as we explain below, Watson and Crick wouldn’t have been able to accomplish their monumental research without the...
Although methanol and ethanol are both types of alcohol, there are some important differences between them. For starters, they have different chemical structures, properties, uses, and effects. Unlike ethanol, which is present in alcoholic beverages, methanol is extremely toxic and should never be ingested.In this article, we’ll explain more about the difference between methanol and ethanol, how they’re produced, and...
Water purification refers to the removal of impurities such as dissolved minerals, sediment (mud), salts, microbes, and organic compounds from water.There are various ways to purify water, with common methods including filtration, distillation, desalination, and deionisation.If you’re studying GCSE chemistry, you’re probably already familiar with some of these processes - you may have even performed a water purification experiment yourself...
While boiled and distilled water are both subjected to heat, there are distinct differences between the two products.Boiled water refers to water that’s simply been heated to boiling point. Although this kills potential pathogens that can be harmful to humans, it’s not considered purified.Distilled water, however, is a much purer form of water that’s had all of its impurities, minerals,...
If you’re planning to pursue a career in chemistry, undertaking a chemistry internship is a great place to start. It allows you to enhance your theoretical knowledge by applying it to real-life problems in a working environment. By learning on the job, you’ll also gain a wealth of practical skills that will give you a competitive edge when applying for...
Ions are atoms, or a group of atoms, that have either gained or lost one or more electrons. Positively-charged ions are called cations, while negatively-charged ions are called anions. Being able to identify different types of ions is a key part of the GCSE chemistry syllabus, so it’s important to have a good foundation of knowledge.In this article, we recap...
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