The chemical breakdown & Chemistry in its element

Ethene: Chemistry in its element 12.02.2014 5:46 ↓

Hayley Birch discovers the compound that links explosive anaesthetics, plastics and ripe bananas: Ethene

Lactose: Chemistry in its element 05.02.2014 6:16 ↓

Lactose intolerance leads to unpleasant and antisocial symptoms. Lars Öhrström finds out why

Tetrahydrogestrinone: Chemistry in its element 29.01.2014 7:13 ↓

Simon Cotton investigates tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), a designer steroid that sparked a sporting scandal

Acetaldehyde: Chemistry in its element 22.01.2014 6:28 ↓

Brian Clegg meets a simple organic compound with a reputation for being something of a bruiser

Paracetamol: Chemistry in its element 15.01.2014 6:07 ↓

Simon Cotton looks back at the history of one of our favourite painkillers, paracetamol

Conotoxins: Chemistry in its element 08.01.2014 5:05 ↓

Helen Scales finds out how unique toxins found in deadly cone snail stings could herald the next generation of painkillers

Boron nitride: Chemistry in its element 17.12.2013 7:22 ↓

Brian Clegg explains how the versatile compound boron nitride may be 'the best kept secret in all of chemistry'

Glyphosate: Chemistry in its element 11.12.2013 5:47 ↓

A popular way to weed out unwanted pest plants, Jen Newton introduces Glyphosate

Guaiacol: Chemistry in its element 04.12.2013 5:10 ↓

This week, Ben Valsler investigates the smoky compound that links whisky, kippers, bacon, hot dogs, coffee, creosote and cough syrup

Hexenal: Chemistry in its element 27.11.2013 6:56 ↓

For many, it's the smell of spring and summer. But hexenal - responsible for the aroma of freshly cut grass - makes Simon Cotton think of cricket.

Potassium bromide: Chemistry in its element 20.11.2013 6:36 ↓

Did chemistry help control tension in the trenches? Brian Clegg investigates potassium bromide

Napalm: Chemistry in its element 13.11.2013 5:39 ↓

A devastating weapon indelibly associated with Apocalypse Now and the Vietnam war, Simon Cotton introduces Napalm

Tamoxifen: Chemistry in its element 06.11.2013 4:21 ↓

Tamoxifen can treat and prevent one type of breast cancer, without the side effects of chemotherapy. Andrew Holding explains more

Phenylthiocarbamide: Chemistry in its element 30.10.2013 5:23 ↓

By tasting fantastically bitter, but only to some, phenylthiocarbamide (or PTC) exposed the genetics of taste

Nitinol: Chemistry in its element 23.10.2013 4:49 ↓

Sitting on your glasses is no longer a death sentence for spectacles, thanks to shape memory alloys like nitinol

Titin: Chemistry in its element 16.10.2013 3:42 ↓

It's a massive molecular record breaker. Andrew Holding introduces Titin, the largest protein in the human body

Spanish fly: Chemistry in its element 10.10.2013 5:33 ↓

Helen Scales looks at cantharidin, the active ingredient in this famous aphrodisiac

Serotonin: Chemistry in its element 02.10.2013 5:52 ↓

Serotonin, the 'happy molecule', may be at the root of depression, but Hayley Birch finds we still have a lot to learn

Thujone: Chemistry in its element 25.09.2013 8:08 ↓

Wrongly blamed for murders and hallucinations, Simon Cotton raises a glass of absinthe to this week's compound: Thujone

Ambergris: Chemistry in its element 18.09.2013 5:44 ↓

How can whale waste make you a fortune? This week, Helen Scales searches for Ambergris

Wilkinson's Catalyst: Chemistry in its element 06.09.2013 7:19 ↓

Simon Cotton introduces the dynamic Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, and the catalyst that carries his name

Atropine: Chemistry in its element 04.09.2013 6:07 ↓

The poison from deadly nightshade, used in a recent attempted murder - Dan Johnson introduces atropine

Zinc oxide: Chemistry in its element 28.08.2013 7:25 ↓

Brian Clegg is taken back to his childhood by zinc oxide

Polyacetylene: Chemistry in its element 21.08.2013 6:36 ↓

David Lindsay explores the first of the conducting organic polymers, polyacetylene

Chitin: Chemistry in its element 14.08.2013 4:52 ↓

It's the compound that creates a lucrative market from leftover lobster. Emma Stoye introduces chitin