Building Science concepts through real experiences.
During daytime, plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen in the process of photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight. However, they even respire simultaneously and hence also take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. But the production of oxygen is more than the production of carbon dioxide. Hence,…
Burning Cotton smells like Burning Paper, whereas burning wool smells like burning hair. Why? Ans. Cotton and paper, both are plant products and they both contain an organic compound named ‘Cellulose’. So while burning cotton and paper, when this cellulose is burnt it gives out a similar characteristic smell. Hence…
The most common culprit for Taj Mahal turning Yellow is iron, which when exposed to water, acids or bleach, begins to oxidize and turns it yellowish. The pollution from local factories and oil refinery at #Mathura are also to blame for. These factories produce pollutants like Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen…
We often see changes around us and get confused about the change being a Physical or a Chemical changes .When leaves become OLD they become YELLOW and fall. Is this a Physical or is it a Chemical changes ? In autumn when we see dry and yellow leaves falling all…
Think of the candle flame as a #helium-filled balloon: No matter which way you hold the string or the tied-off end, the balloon will stubbornly right itself. In fact, turn a candle upside down, and its flame will shift around to point to the ceiling, as if pulled by an…
If LPG is an odourless gas, then how do we detect a gas #leakage? Ans. This is not done by adding rotten cabbage or eggs !! Instead it is done by adding a chemical odourant named Ethyl Mercaptan to the LPG Gas. Ethyl Mercaptan, a sulfur compound is a clear…
Nitrogen gas is used for packing the packets of chips because it is an inert gas, and it prevents the oxidation of oils present in the chips. This keeps the chips fresh and has no or less breakage. Nitrogen is often filled in chips packets to prevent rancidity as it is…
A well-known chemistry experiment is done by placing an egg (raw or boiled) into a container filled with Vinegar. After a few days, something exciting is observed: the egg becomes rubbery and bouncy. The eggshell is formed by calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a salt in limestone, plaster, marble, chalk, corals, shells…
States of matter are generally described on the basis of qualities that can be seen or felt. Matter that feels hard and maintains a fixed shape is called a solid; matter that feels wet and maintains its volume but not its shape is called a liquid. Matter that can change both shape…
In this activity, you will make your drawings move around by letting it float on water. What makes this possible is the interesting chemistry of dry erase markers. These markers are usually used to write on white boards or glass surfaces and can easily be erased to make space for…
Soap molecules consist of a hydrophilic (“water-loving”) end and a hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) end. Water molecules are polar molecules that can dissolve other polar molecules. Fat (and oil) molecules are nonpolar molecules, so they cannot dissolve in water. Milk is a mixture of water, fat, vitamins and minerals. When soap is…
Air is a mixture of many gases. The molecules of gases present in air have weak inter-molecular forces of attraction. Due to this reason these molecules lie far apart from each other i.e. there are large vacant spaces present between these molecules. So, these molecules are free to move in any direction.…
Non–metal oxides are inorganic chemical compounds formed by oxygen atoms with atoms of nonmetallic elements . Among these chemical elements are Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Halogens. As they are considered to be derivatives of the oxyacids, but with a less water molecule, they are also called anhydrides . Non-Metal Oxides are the covalent oxides of non metals…
Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state. Sublimation is an endothermic process that occurs at temperatures and pressures below a substance’s triple point in its phase diagram, which corresponds to the lowest pressure at which the…
Elephant toothpaste is a foamy substance caused by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using potassium iodide or yeast and warm water as a catalyst. How rapidly the reaction proceeds will depend on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Because it requires only a small number of ingredients and makes a…
Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state,without passing through the liquid state. Sublimation is an endothermic process that occurs at temperatures and pressures below a substance’s triple point in its phase diagram, which corresponds to the lowest pressure at which the substance can exist as a liquid. The reverse process of sublimation…
Chemical Reactions are all around us. Whether it is the light from the sun or the cars that we see each day, we are surrounded by these reactions in our everyday life. Chemical Reactions, in the simplest of terms, refer to those reactions in which the bonds are immediately broken…
Why do we respire? Before we understand respiration, let’s do a few experiments. You might be aware of the fact, that candle stops burning when we light it and cover it with a glass jar. In other words, when we stop the flow of air. You can also think…