The world of chemistry is complex yet wildly interesting. From everyday things to those you will only find in a lab, there is a vital and often chemical reason behind why things are the way they are.
1. Firecracker colors are because of mixing various salts and metals
Lithium salts produce red firecrackers. Iron produces yellow and magnesium? White.
2. Just 25% of people can smell asparagus in their urine
The digestive system separates mercaptan from the asparagus which causes that smell.
3. Water is 10% thicker than ice
This explains why ice floats in water.
4. You can transform lead into gold
In theory, you can change the atomic number of lead to make it into gold. To accomplish that, you will need to be quite a genius at physics.
5. Enzymes in the venom of wasps and bees break down our cells
This explains why bee and wasp stings hurt so much. FYI – wasp stings are common, most especially during the warmer months. We all love summer – but it’s time to reconsider that life choice!
6. Diamonds can only be burned at 1,000 degrees celcius or more
Due to their position under atmospheric temperatures, diamonds do not evaporate at high temperatures. But they could oxidize. Diamonds become vapor when heated enough.
7. An atom is almost 100% plain void space
99% empty space to be precise. This implies that matter is also empty.
8. There are more water atoms found in a bucket full of water than all of the grains of sand in the world
4000 more, just in case you were wondering.
9. In a single game of chess, there are more moves than there are atoms in the universe
The universe suddenly seems pretty simple now, doesn’t it?
10. Talc is the softest material found on the planet
It is a mineral of hydrated magnesium silicate.
11. The human body is the reason for the metallic smell of coins and many other metals
The Oct-1-en-3-one is produced when certain metals are in contact with skin oil, which disintegrates as a result. That is why metals smell metallic!