Chemistry in its element

A weekly tour of the periodic table, from Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Batteries: The bedrock of the sustainable future 06/01/2021

Batteries: The bedrock of the sustainable future In this special podcast produced in partnership with Waters Corporation, find out how understanding the chemistry and materials that go into batteries marks the first step towards making them safer and increasing energy density, and unlocks new opportunities for reuse and recycling /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/19309970

Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element 12/21/2020

Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? We explore the history of cinnamon and the compound that gives it its distinctive taste and aroma /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/17275490

Azidoazide azide: Chemistry in its element 12/11/2020

Azidoazide azide: Chemistry in its element A compound so explosively unstable that nobody has been able to measure how sensitive it is without it, well, exploding. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/17158103

Ochre: Chemistry in its element 12/04/2020

Ochre: Chemistry in its element How one of mankind's oldest pigments helped shepherds secure their sheep and inspired one of the most popular songs of the twentieth century /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/17065961

Maltodextrin: Chemistry in its element 11/27/2020

Maltodextrin: Chemistry in its element A sweet compound that provides ample energy for extreme endurance events – find out how maltodextrin helped Anna Ploszajski swim the English channel /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16976915

Ionic liquids: Chemistry in its element 11/20/2020

Ionic liquids: Chemistry in its element Liquid salts, ionic melts, fused salts, or ionic glasses – call them what you like, these much-hyped solvents show great promise. Katrina Krämer speaks to chemical engineer Jason Bara about ionic liquids. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16888952

Chlorhexidine: Chemistry in its element 11/13/2020

Chlorhexidine: Chemistry in its element An antimicrobial compound that kills bacteria and viruses quickly – found in some of the most colourful antiseptic solutions /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16861373

Asparagusic acid: Chemistry in its element 11/05/2020

Asparagusic acid: Chemistry in its element Does asparagus give you foul-smelling urine? Helen Arney investigates asparagusic acid, and the lavatorial genetic lottery that controls whether or not you can smell its distinctive aroma /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16672334

Glycyrrhizic acid: Chemistry in its element 10/30/2020

Glycyrrhizic acid: Chemistry in its element A sweet treat with a deadly trick for Halloween – glycyrrhizic acid, or glycyrrhizin, is found in black liquorice and sweeter than sucrose, but can cause heart problems and even prove fatal if consumed in excess /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16617587

Propofol: Chemistry in its element 10/23/2020

Propofol: Chemistry in its element Also known as 'milk of amnesia', propofol helps to prevent perception of pain in surgery – just don't forget its dangerous side /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16521041

Sofosbuvir: Chemistry in its element 10/16/2020

Sofosbuvir: Chemistry in its element Hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir made waves when first launched – quicker to work and with fewer side effects than existing drugs, but it came with a hefty price tag /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16430582

Bedaquiline: Chemistry in its element 10/09/2020

Bedaquiline: Chemistry in its element Meera Senthilingam makes a welcome return to the podcast with a drug that gives hope to the many sufferers of drug-resistant TB – still one of the world's biggest killers /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16339481

Oxybenzone: Chemistry in its element 10/02/2020

Oxybenzone: Chemistry in its element This summer's extreme weather prompts Katrina Krämer to investigate the history of sunblock and the ingredient blamed by some for bleaching coral reefs /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/16250360

Gypsum: Chemistry in its element 08/07/2020

Gypsum: Chemistry in its element From Lavoisier’s experiments with plaster of paris to the the ‘Sistine Chapel of crystals’ in Mexico, Mike Freemantle explores the history of gypsum /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/15526667

Favipiravir: Chemistry in its element 08/02/2020

Favipiravir: Chemistry in its element Originally developed to treat flu and marketed in Japan as Avigan, promising Covid-19 trial results have seen countries stockpiling this medication by the millions /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/15446231

Tannic acid: Chemistry in its element 07/24/2020

Tannic acid: Chemistry in its element Tannic acid in green acorns can kill wild animals and livestock, but in this podcast Mike Freemantle makes plain that you can prevent poisoning with pannage pigs. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/15344447

Ractopamine: Chemistry in its element 07/17/2020

Ractopamine: Chemistry in its element Common in the US but banned in the EU, this animal feed additive makes for muscular pigs and beefy international trade disputes. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/15251918

Hexasilabenzene: Chemistry in its element 07/10/2020

Hexasilabenzene: Chemistry in its element Brian Clegg discovers what a six-membered silicon ring can tell us about alien life /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/15161540

2AP (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline): Chemistry in its element 07/03/2020

2AP (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline): Chemistry in its element Frances Addison on the aromatic compound found in both buttered popcorn and the bearcat’s scent glands, and responsible for the distinctive smell of both /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14987153

Dexamethasone: Chemistry in its element 06/26/2020

Dexamethasone: Chemistry in its element News that this cheap, ubiquitous steroid drug may reduce deaths in Covid-19 cases has been greeted with cautious optimism. Ben Valsler looks at the history of dexamethasone and the promising Recovery trial results. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14982236

Porcelain: Chemistry in its element 06/19/2020

Porcelain: Chemistry in its element Mike Freemantle on the art, history and science of this delicate, translucent ceramic material /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14888333

Feldspar: Chemistry in its element 06/12/2020

Feldspar: Chemistry in its element Brian Clegg introduces the humble mineral that delights both astronomers and archaeologists /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14798453

Cimetidine: Chemistry in its element 06/05/2020

Cimetidine: Chemistry in its element Mike Freemantle introduces the peptic ulcer treatment cimetidine, which – as Tagamet – became the first 'blockbuster' drug /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14699936

Fexinidazole: Chemistry in its element 05/29/2020

Fexinidazole: Chemistry in its element The World Health Organisation hope to eradicate human African trypanosomiasis, better known as sleeping sickness, within our lifetimes. Jamie Durrani looks at a drug that may make it possible. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14617496

DMT – Dimethyltryptamine: Chemistry in its element 05/22/2020

DMT – Dimethyltryptamine: Chemistry in its element Georgia Mills investigates the psychoactive found in ayahuasca that may mirror near-death experiences /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14510078

Chlorine dioxide: Chemistry in its element 05/15/2020

Chlorine dioxide: Chemistry in its element Katrina Krämer investigates how industrial-strength bleach became promoted as 'miracle mineral supplement' – a supposed 'cure' for autism, cancer and even Covid-19. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14433380

Oleic acid: Chemistry in its element 05/08/2020

Oleic acid: Chemistry in its element Brian Clegg discovers the link between olive oil, dandruff and stained glass windows. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14326919

Interferon beta: Chemistry in its element 05/01/2020

Interferon beta: Chemistry in its element An immune-modulating compound used to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and now showing potential against coronaviruses, interferon beta is the last of the WHO's Covid-19 Solidarity trial candidates to get the Chemistry in its element treatment. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14236466

Ritonavir: Chemistry in its element 04/24/2020

Ritonavir: Chemistry in its element The unexplained appearance and dramatic spread of a new form of HIV drug ritonavir hurt patients and cost its makers almost $250 million. Alexander Whiteside on the chemical phenomenon that links Irving Langmuir, H G Wells and Kurt Vonnegut. /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14131061

Lopinavir: Chemistry in its element 04/17/2020

Lopinavir: Chemistry in its element Ben Valsler explains how a drug that prevents HIV from donning its protective 'coat' now makes up one arm of the World Health Organisation's Covid-19 trial /episode/index/show/chemistryinitselement/id/14030375

Chemistry in its element

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