SOLVE A



SOLVE A

“CHEM MYSTERY”

1. Who were alchemists? What were some of the things they believed in?

2. What is the theory of phlogiston?

3. Why do metals have luster and shine the way they do?

4. In the book “Alice in Wonderland”, one of the characters is the “Mad Hatter”. Where does the term “mad as a hatter” come from and why were hatters sometimes “mad”?

5. Why do certain metals, like iron, rust, but gold doesn’t? What is rust or corrosion?

6. How do artificial snow making machines at the ski slopes work? How can they make snow if it is above freezing outside?

7. How do they make all those different colors in fireworks?

8. How do they make all those colors in neon signs? Is it just colored glass?

9. What does the term “in the limelight” refer to and why?

10. What does “karat” refer to in 14 karat gold? Is the gold jewelry we wear pure gold?

11. One of the earlier ages of mankind’s history is called the “Bronze Age”. What is bronze and how did the people during the Bronze Age obtain it?

12. Why is the element Tungsten used in light bulb filaments? Why not another metal?

13. What happens to the sugar when you stir it into tea? Where does it go and why?

14. What happens at the molecular level when water boils? What causes the bubbles?

15. Why do certain materials like iron, conduct electricity but others, like wax, do not?

16. What makes waterproof mascara waterproof? How does “eye makeup remover” remove it?

17. How does Dawn dishwashing detergent “take grease out of your way”?

18. Why is dry-cleaning called “dry”? Don’t you need to wash things in water to clean them?

19. During WW II “incendiary bombs” were often used. What is an incendiary bomb and why is it so dangerous?

20. In Ireland, people often burn “peat” to heat their homes. What is peat? How is it formed, and what makes it a good fuel?

21. All light bulbs are filled with argon gas. Why is it there? Why that particular gas?

22. If natural diamonds take millions of years to form inside the earth, how are synthetic diamonds manufactured?

23. In what form are most metals that are mined taken from the earth? How do they extract the metal? What metals can you mine pure from the earth?

24. Early man used stone tools. Huge leaps in human society occurred with the use of metals in weapons and tools. How might early man have first figured out how to obtain metals?

25. What is the “thermite” process? How is it connected with the building of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroads that connected the east and west coasts in the 1800’s?

26. What Greek myth does the element Tantalum get its name from? Why is it called that?

27. What is a “kobold”? What element derives its name from this and why?

28. Why is the town of Yterrby, Sweden so important to the Periodic Table?

29. Why do vinegar and baking soda react the way they do?

30. What is “rock candy”? How do you make it? What makes rock candy crystals form?

31. How is soap made? How does soap know what is dirt and what isn’t?

32. What it mean when people talk about water being “hard” or “soft”?

33. If a bottle of soda is kept in the trunk of a hot car and opened, what happens and why?

34. What makes a battery work? What makes a battery finally become “dead”?

35. How does laundry bleach work? How does it tell whites from colors?

36. What is silly putty? How was it created?

37. What does salt do to the ice on our sidewalks in the winter?

38. Why can I melt sugar on my stove, but I can’t melt salt?

39. How does a microwave oven cook food?

40. What does it mean that cookware is “nonstick”? What doesn’t food stick to it?

41. Why are you supposed to store batteries in your refrigerator?

42. What exactly happens to your film when you get it “developed”?

43. Why is it important to put antifreeze in our car’s radiator? What does it do?

44. Why don’t oil and water mix?

45. What is the difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide? What is their connection with car exhaust? Why is carbon monoxide so much more dangerous?

46. How do they figure out all that specific information on food labels?

47. What is it inside an instant hot pack and an instant cold pack that make them work?

48. What happens to food when it gets “freezer burn”?

49. What do they do with petroleum at a petroleum “refinery”?

50. What does “partially hydrogenated” vegetable oil mean? Why partially? What is the difference between partially hydrogenated and totally hydrogenated?

51. What is “dry” ice? What causes all those clouds of smoke to form around it?

52. What does the term “proof” mean in terms of alcoholic beverages?

53. If the Statue of Liberty is made of copper, why is she green?

54. It is actually possible to tell the temperature by listening to the chirping of crickets. How is this possible?

55. How do they make “freeze dried” food like coffee?

56. It may seem obvious, but how does evaporation of sweat cool your body down?

57. How does a pressure cooker cook food faster than an oven?

58. Why does water put out a fire?

59. What makes a magnet attract iron? Why doesn’t it attract metals like copper?

60. How come you can purchase different color diamonds (ex: pink, yellow) if diamonds are made up of pure carbon?

61. What is caffeine? Why is it in coffee? How do they make decaffeinated coffee?

62. Why do skunks stink so badly?

63. What is baking soda and what does it do during baking?

64. What is a “halogen” light?

65. What is “Milk of Magnesia” and what does it do for indigestion?

66. What makes up a ruby or a sapphire? What causes the different colors of these gemstones?

67. What are some of the different forms that SiO2 (quartz) can take?

68. What is asbestos and how does it work? Why is it so dangerous?

69. What is silicone? Give some examples of silicones and their uses.

70. What is phosphorescence? Where does the name come from?

71. What happens when someone explodes a stink bomb?

72. What is dynamite? Why is it so explosive?

73. What chemical reaction is responsible for the way your airbags in your car work?

74. Why does toothpaste contain fluoride? What does it do?

75. Where does the term “salary” come from and why?

76. How is glass made? Where does “natural glass” which can be found on beaches come from?

77. What is Teflon? What is it used for and why?

78. What is Freon? What is it used for and why?

79. What is an H-Bomb? How does it work?

80. What causes the “bends”. Why must scuba divers be so careful?

81. What is “borax” and how is it used?

82. What are some of the different forms that pure carbon can take?

83. The gas masks on airplanes provide oxygen to passengers in emergencies yet the airplane doesn’t contain any oxygen tanks. How do the masks provide oxygen?

84. What are the differences between the various “fossil fuels”?

85. What purpose did the “canary” serve for the workers in a coal mine?

86. Nitrogen (N2) a relatively un-reactive gas. Why is it so un-reactive? What special ways have plants evolved to extract nitrogen from the air and use it?

87. Where does the compound “ammonia” get its name from?

88. What is the “Haber Process” and why did it help the Germans during WW I?

89. What is “ozone”? How is it formed? What does the “ozone layer” do?

90. What is laughing gas? How does it work?

91. What does it mean to “pickle” something?

92. What makes acid rain so acidic?

93. Why do we add chlorine to swimming pools? What does it do?

94. What are CFC’s? Where do they come from? What do they do to the atmosphere?

95. Hillbillies in the mountains would often make their own “moonshine” in a “still”.

What is a “still”, and how does it make “moonshine”?

96. What is a “Geiger Counter” and how does it work?

97. Titanium is often used in hip and joint replacement surgery. Why is this metal used?

98. What role does the element iron play in human blood?

99. How is “steel” produced? What is “galvanized steel”?

100. What does the “catalytic converter” in your car do?

101. People with cancer often have “radiation treatment”. What does this treatment consist of?

102. What is an “amalgam” and how are they used in dentistry?

103. What is the role of silver is photography?

104. Rain can be produced artificially by “seeding” clouds? How does this process produce rain?

105. What are some of the dangers and benefits of arsenic?

106. What chemicals help make photocopies?

107. Why is there zinc sulfide in your television and computer monitors?

108. Is there such a thing as kryptonite? Why or why not? And what mysterious power does it hold over superman?

109. How is “cubic zirconium” different from diamonds?

110. What are the types of materials that pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters are made from?

111. Various paint colors derive their names from certain elements. What are some of these and how do the elements give the paint such distinct colors?

112. What chemical compounds did the ancient Egyptians use to manufacture their makeup?

113. In the 1700’s it was fashionable from women (and even men) in high society to appear to have very pale skin so they would use a white powdery makeup on their skin. Yet many of these women got very sick or even died from this fashion trend, why?

114. Why does a match light when you strike it?

115. Why is the salt we use “iodized”?

116. Firefighters often need self contained breathing apparatus when entering a fire, but carrying a tank with oxygen into a fire would be too dangerous. Yet these breathing apparatus exist, how do they work?

117. How does an atomic clock work?

118. Barium is often used to diagnosis intestinal disorders, how does it do this?

119. What are “rare earth elements”?

120. It has been estimated that one in every 5 products made today contains platinum, or used platinum in the manufacturing of the product. Why is platinum used so much?

121. Why is gold such a precious metal? How did people “pan” for gold?

122. Why is mercury so dangerous? If you break a mercury thermometer, how should it be cleaned up?

123. Why is gasoline “unleaded”?

124. Why do you need a “radon detector” in your home?

125. How does a smoke detector work? Why does it contain a radioactive element?

126. What is a cyclotron and what is it used for?

127. What is a “Breeder Reactor”?

128. When something dies, why does it smell so bad?

129. Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize for her discoveries. In the end, her research killed her, how?

130. How was aspirin first discovered? What does it do in the body?

131. An octopus shoots a jet of “ink” to confuse predators. What is this “ink” and how does the octopus make it?

132. What is going on chemically when a chameleon changes in color?

133. Why does your voice sound higher when you suck on a helium balloon?

134. Chemically, how does an oyster make a pearl?

135. How are emeralds made? What types of elements make them up?

136. What types of chemicals go into the manufacture of lipstick?

137. How does mascara lengthen your eyelashes?

138. How does “white out” work? What is it made of? Why does it smell funny?

139. What is present in “liquid crystal” displays on calculator screens?

140. Why is glue sticky?

141. Chemically why do stalactites and stalagmites form?

142. What goes into making chewing gum? How is bubble gum different from other gums?

143. How does a bombardier beetle come by its special chemical defense?

144. How can we tell what elements make up the sun and the stars?

145. How was “Avogadro’s Number” (6.02 x 1023 ) discovered?

146. What is graphite? Why is this substance used in pencils?

147. The rise and development of the ancient Greek empire largely depended on a compound called “oleic acid”. What is oleic acid and why was it so important to the ancient Greeks?

148. Why does poison ivy give you a rash?

149. Many fish living in the deep dark ocean depths have the ability to emit their own glowing lights. Chemically how do these fish do this?

150. How does antiperspirant work? Does it really stop you from sweating?

151. What is the history of the use of opium?

152. Many people are “chocoholics” and love all things containing chocolate. They say that it makes them “feel” happy and they need their chocolate “fix”. Is there any truth to this?

153. Medicines used at the beginning of the 1900’s often routinely contained chemicals that we would find strange today, especially when used in children’s medications. What were some of these chemicals?

154. What does the chemical “caffeine” do in the body? From what sources do we obtain this chemical?

155. “Nylon” was touted as “artificial silk” when it was first developed. How nylon first developed and what was it made of chemically?

156. Chemically, what makes up spiders silk? Why is it so strong?

157. What are the origins of rubber?

158. What sorts of chemicals are secreted from the skins of poison dart frogs?

159. One plant often used by early herbalists was called “deadly nightshade” . This plant was also called “belladonna” by the Italians and used by many Italian women. What chemicals did this plant contain, and why did Italian women use it?

160. Often in spy movies people are given “truth serum” when they are being interrogated. Does “truth serum” exist?

161. What is silk? How is it produced?

162. Cocaine was touted as a “wonder drug” in the 1880’s. How was this drug first discovered and why was it originally called a “wonder drug”?

163. When people faint, a whiff of smelling salts will revive them. How do “smelling salts” work?

164. The drug “morphine” was named after Morpheus: the Roman god of dreams. What are some of the benefits and dangers of using morphine?

165. What is the early history of the use of the chemical “nicotine”?

166. What is methadone and what does it do for people with heroin addictions?

167. What is ergot? What does it have to do with the Salem witch trials?

168. What’s the story behind the chemical DDT?

169. Why were seaman called “limeys”.

170. What is celluloid? How is it related to the film industry?

171. What sort of chemicals do they believe might have been in the potion that Juliet took in “Romeo and Juliet”?

172. Chemically, how did Joseph Lister change medicine?

173. What is chloroform? How was it first used?

174. During WWI many toxic chemicals were used in chemical warfare including mustard gas and phosgene. What are these chemicals and what were their effects?

175. What role does chlorine play in purifying our water?

176. What is nitroglycerine? How is it made and used?

177. Why is the chemical obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree so important?

178. What is “Agent Orange”?

179. How is diesel fuel different from gasoline?

180. What happens in a “glow-stick” that makes it glow?

181. How do they make fog for movie sets?

182. Chemically, what is a fart?

183. What is piezioelectricity?

184. Chemically, what is glass? How is it made?

185. What happens to plastic that is recycled?

186. Why do leaves change color in the fall?

187. Chemically what makes up human tears?

188. How does soda get carbonated?

189. How does a hybrid car work?

190. How did the Hindenburg fly? Why did it explode?

191. How does a thermostat work?

192. Why do people in some countries tell the temperature in Fahrenheit, while others use Celsius?

193. Why do metals conduct electricity?

194. What is Minimata Disease? What happened in this town in Japan to cause the disease?

195. What happens in a firefly that causes it to light up?

196. In the film “Erin Brockovich”, Julia Roberts plays a character who is investigating toxic chemicals that were not disposed of properly by a company. What was the dangerous chemical she found was contaminating the environment? What did it do to the people in the town?

197. What are some of the interesting properties of matter when it reaches temperatures near absolute zero?

198. How do antistatic sprays like “Static Guard” work?

199. What is in deodorant that helps prevent perspiration?

200. What is the chemical difference between sugar and artificial sugar supplements such as Splenda and Sweet & Low?

201. What makes bananas turn brown? Why can you hasten the ripening of some fruits by putting them in a paper bag?

202. Why can graphite from a pencil be erased but not ink from a pen?

203. What are mirrors made of, how do they reflect?

204. How do the chemicals from aerosol cans damage the ozone layer?

205. Why are diamonds so strong?

206. How does waterproof spray protect your shoes from water?

207. What is happening chemically when milk goes sour?

208. How do solar panels convert solar energy to electrical energy?

209. What makes a “fire proof” item fire proof?

210. What causes clothes made of certain fabrics to shrink when you wash them?

211. How and why might having a tattoo on your skin be affected in a MRI machine?

212. What is the difference between regular glass and bullet proof glass?

213. How do the chemicals in hair dyes work?

214. Chemically, what does your hair turn grey?

215. How does wart remover work?

216. What types of electrolytes are in Gatorade? What do they do for you?

217. What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?

218. Why is stainless steel “stainless”?

219. How does a breathalyzer work?

220. How are smoke detectors able to detect smoke?

221. How do products like Ben Gay and Icy Hot work?

222. How is coffee decaffeinated?

223. What makes superglue so strong?

224. Why do pop rocks explode in your mouth?

225. What is MSG?

226. Food labels are now required to tell the amount of “trans fats” that are present in the food. What are “trans fats?” How are they different from other fats?

227. What happens to the clay in pottery when you fire it?

228. What are some of the chemicals involved in pottery glazes?

229. What are free radicals?

230. What is collagen and what does it do for your skin?

231. What is ambergris? How was it used in the perfume industry?

232. Why is Vitamin C good for you?

233. What did Benjamin Franklin contribute to the development of atomic theory?

234. What is PVC? How is it made?

235. What is Bakelite?

236. In the 1800’s green wallpaper may have contributed to the death of many people (including Napoleon!). Why was this wallpaper dangerous?

237. What chemical do puffer fish produce that makes them so dangerous to eat? (Fugu!)

238. What is rennet? How is it used in cheese production?

239. What did early chemist Hennig Brand discover by collecting 60 buckets of urine?

240. Who was Dr. Crippen? What did he do that made him so famous?

241. What chemicals are present in hallucinogenic mushrooms that cause the effect?

242. Chemically what is the difference between shampoo and conditioner?

243. Chemist William Perkin discovered a way to mass produce a new dye color that caused a sensation in the fashion world. What was the color he produced and how did he discover it?

244. What are crayola crayons made of?

245. What is sarin gas? What does it do to the human body?

246. What elements did all matter consist of according to Aristotle? What kind of proof did he use to illustrate his theory?

247. The ancient Romans created a revolutionary building material called concrete. How did they make it? Why was it such a revolutionary building material?

248. What would happen to your body if you stepped out of the hatch of the space shuttle with no spacesuit on?

249. What is the difference between oil and acrylic paints? How are they made?

250. How did DaVinci prepare the paints he used for the Sistine chapel?

251. When and how was plastic first invented?

252. What do the octane numbers of gasoline mean?

253. What are PCB’s?

254. Why is asbestos so dangerous? What is it? What is it used for?

255. How is nuclear waste stored?

256. What materials are used in baby diapers that make them so absorbent?

257. Chemically, what is the difference between DNA and RNA?

258. How is coral created? Chemically what is it?

259. Not all blood is red. What are some of the other colors, besides red, that blood can be? Chemically, what accounts for these color differences?

260. What are some of the chemicals that are found in cigarette tobacco?

261. What chemicals make certain mushrooms poisonous?

262. What is an “ionic air cleaner”? How does it work?

263. What was the Manhattan Project?

264. Why do your clothes look different under fluorescent light?

265. What is the fourth state of matter?

266. Why is liquid water denser than ice?

267. What was the chemical composition of Earth’s early atmosphere? How has the atmosphere’s composition changed? What chemicals make up or atmosphere now?

268. What are some of the chemical compounds most commonly found dissolved in seawater?

269. What is a cloud chamber?

270. What is enriched Uranium?

271. What is technetium?

272. What is lodestone, and how was it used by ancient mariners?

273. In coal mining, what is meant by “damp”?

274. What is Buckminsterfullerene?

275. How is the glass used in movie stunts made?

276. Where and when was gunpowder invented? Chemically what is it?

277. Chemically, what makes certain types of peppers hotter than others?

278. What type of chemical reaction is responsible for making apples turn brown?

279. What is the composition of the water in the Dead Sea? How did it get that way?

280. What are colloids?

281. What is “canary glass” and why was it so popular in Victorian and Edwardian homes?

282. What are “Roentgen Rays”. How were they discovered?

283. What were some of the earliest uses of radioactive isotopes in medicine?

284. The word “alchemist” actually comes from Arabic. What were some of the contributions that early Arabian alchemists provided to the study of chemistry?

285. Who was Paracelsus and what were some of his contributions to chemistry?

286. Percy Julian was an African American who fought racial inequality to win worldwide acclaim for his work in organic chemistry. What were some of his contributions to the world of chemistry?

287. What is a Spinthariscope?

288. Why is the element silicon so important for use in computers?

289. Scientists have discovered thriving ecosystems by deep sea ocean vents. Chemically, how is it possible for an ecosystem to exist without sunlight?

290. What materials go into making a cast for a broken leg. What makes it harden and become strong?

291. What type of materials are used in the making of bulletproof vests? Chemically what sets these materials apart?

292. What is fracking?

293. What is the chemistry of a sodium/potassium pump and how does it work?

294. What is a Non-Newtonian fluid and what does it behave the way it does?

295. Why is climbing Mt. Everest such a dangerous undertaking for the human body?

296. How does Carbon-14 dating work?

297. What do fertilizers used in farming actually do? What are they made of?

298. What makes popcorn pop?

299. What is dry ice? Why does it behave the way it does?

300. What are some of the unusual properties of water?

301. How do sparkler ever lighting candle work?

302. Who were the “Radium Girls”?

303. What chemical changes happen in the body when it goes in to anaphylactic shock?

304. What were some of the chemicals involved in Egyptian mummification?

305. What chemicals are in sunscreen and how do they help protect your skin?

306. How are stars formed?

307. What are some of the chemicals that are emitted by a cars exhaust?

308. What are the historical origins of the term “Chemistry”.

309. What are some of the chemicals found in the dyes used for creating tattoos?

310. What chemicals are in hair gel and how does it work?

311. Why are some elements more abundant on earth than others?

312. Why does some jewelry turn your skin green?

313. Why do your ears “pop” on an airplane?

314. What are some of the toxins found in snake venom and what are their effects?

315. What is inside a fire extinguisher and how does it put out a fire?

316. How is it possible to power a clock using a potato?

317. Chemically, what is in a bee sting and how does it affect your body?

318. Why does a mosquito bite itch?

319. Why are the elements Bromine and Mercury liquid at room temperature?

320. What did the water pipes of the Roman Empire pose a health hazard?

321. What makes certain markers have such a strong odor? How do they make scented markers?

322. What is the difference between seltzer and tonic water?

323. Why are Xe and Kr the only Noble gases with “charges” or oxidation states listed on the Periodic Table?

324. How does a blood sugar meter work for people with diabetes?

325. Chemically why can people naturally have different color hair?

326. What is the difference between a rechargeable battery and a normal battery?

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