Theoretical chemistry is regarded as the basis of chemistry research and studies. However, most consider that theoretic approaches may exist only on papers, in books, and in journals. Knowledge of theoretical basis may be quite interesting for curious minds, and the language of numbers, chemical elements, and equations may be quite spectacular if put into practice.
Explosions, chemistry tricks, hot ice, freezing liquids, and many other things are quite simple for those who realize the basics of chemistry theory, and they look like magic for those who missed chemistry lessons at school. Just imagine that an explosion is possible without explosives, or that ice may be hot.
The liquid may look like some disgusting moving slime like in scary movies. All these and more are available in Joe Genius podcasts and shows available on YouTube.
All you need is to listen carefully, follow the precautions, and make sure you do not violate fire safety rules.
The essence of the shown experiments is explained by the nature of sodium, and its reaction with water. 2Na(s) + 2H2O → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) (Myers, 54)
This reaction is featured with the eruption of H2, hence, if it is placed in a sealed bottle, the pressure of the gas will break the bottle walls, as plastic will no longer be able to keep this pressure.
Dry Ice (CO2) if put in water, starts melting, and soon it becomes gaseous, as the temperature of CO2 increases. If it is placed in a bottle, the gas pressure tears the walls of the bottle. The gas expansion is clearly shown in the experiment with the soap bubble.
An organic part of theoretic chemistry is linked with a clear understanding of the processes that happen during organic reactions. Most people do not even suspect that we come across organic reactions every day, and even do not mention them. Here we have substitutions, aromatic substitutions, rearrangements, metathesis, etc. (Mahajan and Girija, 714) Cooking chemistry reactions. The most well-known cooking reactions in cooking are:
- Fermentation. It is often used in baking when yeast reacts with sugar creating alcohol and carbon dioxide. The simplest reaction is as follows:
- C6H12O6 → 2(CH3CH2OH) + 2(CO2) + Energy (which is stored in ATP) (Miles, 47)
- Acid-base reactions. This is used for making sour milk, cream, or bubbles in biscuits.
- CH3COOH + NaHCO3 = CH3COONa + H2O + CO2 (Walden, 203)
- Caramelization. Proteins are breaking into simple sugars; hence, we get crusty meat for barbecues.
More information is available at Science Daily Portal and all the answers as to the chemical process that happens while cooking may be found on this page. Organic chemistry is a complex science, and it is impossible to restrict it with sugars, alcohols, or acidity only. This presupposes knowing the sphere of non-organic chemistry, as well as bits of knowledge from related sciences: biochemistry, the chemistry of molecules, the behavior of atoms, etc. (Science Daily, 2011)
If you are interested in the latest achievements of organic chemistry scientists all over the world, the Department of Theoretical Chemistry portal will be the source of news and information for you. Actually, these are the latest achievements in chemistry, and this is regarded as one of the most reliable theoretic chemistry sources.
Works Cited
Mahajan, Deepa Sanjay, and Girija Shankar Singh. ” Organic Chemistry Teaching: Perception of Science and Undergraduate Students.” Education 123.4 (2003): 714.
Miles, Elizabeth. “Organic Chemistry.” The Architectural Review. 2003: 47.
Myers, Richard. The Basics of Chemistry. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003.
Walden, Paul. Salts, Acids, and Bases: Electrolytes. Trans. Ludwig Frederick Audrieth. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 2004.
Science Daily. Chemistry Of Cooking. Web.