Silica gel is a commercial desiccant - it removes moisture from the air and reduces humidity. When you’ve bought a new pair of shoes, you’ve probably noticed the small packets of beads that come inside the packaging. These are packets of silica gel granules. They are often included in product packaging, like electronic gadgets, telescopes, and microscopes, so as to...
Titanium dioxide is a natural mineral oxide of titanium with the chemical formula TiO2. It’s commonly used as a pigment in a wide range of products, from paint and ceramics to beauty products. It’s even used in food, particularly cake decorations, where it’s recognised by the E-number E171. But does this substance actually have any health benefits? The Health Benefits...
Titanium dioxide has been used for more than a century in various industrial and household applications. Chemically, its IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) name is titanium(IV) oxide, but it’s also informally known as titania. This is a naturally-occurring substance that has a relatively simple formula, TiO2. It’s most commonly used as a pigment, which you may recognise...
Xylene is used for various industrial purposes, such as in the manufacture of terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate monomers, where it’s used as a chemical precursor. This is one of its most important uses because these are the monomers responsible for creating polymers for plastics, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyester fabrics. Xylene is also used as an industrial solvent...
