Portal:Chemistry

 

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The Chemistry Portal

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Colourful solutions in test-tubes.
Welcome to the chemistry portal. Chemistry, from Greek language χυμεία meaning "study of liquids", is a branch of science. Modern chemistry focuses on the study of elements of the world and the bonds between elements. Chemistry also deals with composition, structure, and properties of substances and the transformations that they undergo. In the study of matter, chemistry also investigates its interactions with energy and itself. Because of the diversity of matter, which is mostly in the form of compounds, chemists often study how atoms of different chemical elements interact to form molecules, and how molecules interact with each other.


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Featured article - Selected picture - News - Selected biography - History and Philosophy - Techniques - Equipment - Chemistry in society - Chemistry in industry - Periodic Table - Resources - WikiProjects - Things you can do - Collaboration of the month - Related portals - Associated Wikimedia


  

Featured article

Xenon tetrafluoride was first created in 1962 to be the first simple compound of xenon, a noble gas widely thought to be chemically inert. The creation opened a new era for the study of chemical bonds.
Xenon (pronounced /ˈzɛnɒn/ in the UK, /ˈziːnɒn/ in the US) is a chemical element that has the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. A colorless, heavy, odorless noble gas, xenon occurs in the earth's atmosphere in trace amounts. Although generally unreactive, xenon can undergo a few chemical reactions such as the formation of xenon hexafluoroplatinate, the first noble gas compound to be synthesized.

Naturally occurring xenon is made of nine stable isotopes, but there are also over 40 unstable isotopes that undergo radioactive decay. The isotope ratios of xenon are an important tool for studying the early history of the Solar System. Xenon-135 is produced as a result of nuclear fission and acts as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.

Xenon is used in flash lamps and arc lamps, and as a general anesthetic. The first excimer laser design used a xenon dimer molecule (Xe2) as its lasing medium, and the earliest laser designs used xenon flash lamps as pumps. Xenon is also being used to search for hypothetical weakly interactive massive particles and as the propellant for ion thrusters in spacecraft.

  

Selected picture

A vitrification experiment for the study of nuclear waste disposal at Pacific Northwest National Labs.
Credit: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Vitrification is a process of converting a material into a glass-like amorphous solid which is free of any crystalline structure, either by the quick removal or addition of heat, or by mixing with an additive. Vitrification is a proven technique in the disposal and long-term storage of nuclear waste or other hazardous wastes. Waste is mixed with glass-forming chemicals to form molten glass that then solidifies, immobilizing the waste. The final waste form resembles obsidian and is a non-leaching, durable material that effectively traps the waste inside. The above image demonstrates this process.

  

Categories

  

History and Philosophy of Chemistry

Antoine Lavoisier

Many chemists have an interest in the history of chemistry. Those with philosophical interests will be interested that the philosophy of chemistry has quite recently developed along a path somewhat different from the general philosophy of science.

Other articles that might interest you are:

There is a Wikipedia Project on the History of Science and portals for the scientific method and philosophy of science.

  

Chemistry Resources

Wikipedia:WikiProject Chemicals/Data is a collection of links and references that are useful for chemistry-related works. This includes free online chemical databases, publications, patents, computer programs, and various tools.

Science is Fun University of Wisconsin-Madison Chemistry Professor Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, shares the fun of science.

megaConverter The Web's best place to figure out what equals what.

General Chemistry Online Clear text and comprehensive coverage of general chemistry topics by Fred Senese, Dept. of Chemistry Frostburg State University

General Chemistry Demonstration at Purdue Video clips (and descriptions) of lecture demonstrations.

Intota Chemistry Experts A large online listing of real-world chemistry expert biographies provides examples of the many areas of expertise and careers in chemistry.

Chemistry Webercises Directory A large listing of chemistry resources maintained by Steven Murov, Emeritus Chemistry Professor Modesto Junior College.

MathMol MathMol (Mathematics and Molecules) is a good starting point for those interested in the field of molecular modeling.

Chemistry Educational Resources and Essential References from Wiley, the world's largest chemistry publisher

ABC Chemistry A directory of free full-text journals in chemistry, biochemistry and related subjects.

  

In the news

Hydrated protons pair up
Hydrated protons pair up
  

Selected biography

Fritz Haber
Fritz Haber (1868-1934) was a German chemist, known as "the father of chemical warfare" due to his work in developing and deploying chlorine and other poisonous gases for use in World War I. Along with Carl Bosch, he developed the Haber process, which is the catalytic formation of ammonia from hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen under conditions of high temperature and high pressure. This is considered an important milestone in industrial chemistry, and he received the 1918 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this work. As part of his work in chemical warfare, he developed gas masks with absorbent filters, and formulated a mathematical relationship between gas concentration and necessary exposure time to induce death, known as Haber's rule. He is also associated with the development of the cyanide formulation, Zyklon B.
  

Techniques used by chemists

  

Equipment used by chemists

  

Chemistry in society

  

Chemistry in industry

  

WikiProjects

  

Periodic Table

  

Things you can do

Here are some things you can do:

  

Collaboration of the Month

The current Chemistry Collaboration of the Month is Catalysis.
Every month a different chemistry-related topic, stub or non-existent article is picked. Please improve the article any way you can.
  

Related portals

  

Associated Wikimedia