Oxygen is an essential element for various scientific and industrial processes. In the laboratory, it is commonly prepared using a few established methods, each leveraging chemical reactions to produce this vital gas. 1. From Hydrogen Peroxide The most common method of preparing oxygen in the lab is catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. At room temperature, … Read more
In chemistry, elements are represented by letters. These letters are called chemical symbols. As of February 2024, 118 chemical elements had been identified and named officially by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Each of these elements is represented by a chemical symbol. Chemical symbols consist of one or two letters, which … Read more
In the previous section, we described chemical changes as those in which two substances react to form one or more new substances or those in which one substance changes to two or more new substances. In chemistry, such changes are referred to as chemical reactions. For chemists to describe or explain chemical reactions to … Read more
We have already learned about the physical properties of acids in this previous post. Let’s now focus on the chemical properties of acids (or how they react with other substances). 1. Reaction of Acids with Metals Acids react with metals to form a salt and hydrogen gas. Acids contain chemically bound hydrogen, which can be … Read more
In the previous post, we mentioned that one of the properties of acids is that they have sour tastes, while bases have bitter tastes. Using taste to classify substances as acids or bases is not an accurate method. It is not safe either due to the potential harm that acidic or basic substances can cause … Read more
Acids and bases are everywhere. When you squeeze a lemon to make lemonade, the juice is an acid. If your TV remote operates on battery power, the batteries contain acids. Acids flow through our bodies, aiding in food digestion and even facilitating muscle building. And what about bases? Well, if you washed your hands today, … Read more
In the previous section, we defined a compound as a pure substance made up of two or more elements chemically combined. Given the many ways in which elements can combine, the number of possible compounds is virtually limitless. But how do we name all these compounds? How can we know which elements constitute a compound? … Read more