Department of Chemistry

Links to Fun (and sometimes Weird) Science Sites

• Alkali Metal Explosions:  the Brainiac version is quite entertaining, but...
  • It turns out that they faked it! Theodore Gray notes the news releases claiming they admitted this, and he was unable to reproduce these dramatic effects.
  • On the other hand, another video, Alkali Metals: Explosive Reactions, does demonstrate the increasing reactivity -- using small quantities of the elements -- and a pretty spectacular explosion with Cesium. There are other good videos on the YouTube site as well: Alkali Metals in Water, Rubidium and Cesium in Water; (but pay no attention to the Francium Bomb Test in Water -- how ignorant do they think viewers are?).
  • And the Disposal of Sodium, 1947 -- before EPA and OSHA -- is pretty impressive.
• Chemistree Carols - I'm dreaming of a white precipitate...?
• Chemistry Songs - Grignard the Beautiful and other all-time favorites!
• Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal - critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims.
• Diet Coke + Mentos - 101 two-liter bottles of Diet Coke + 523 Mentos.
• Electromagnetic Spectrum - want to know the frequency of Superman's heat vision or the wavelength of the Death Star laser?
• The Elements Song - Tom Lehrer's classic with a cute animation.
• Improbable Research - research that makes people laugh and then think.
• Matchstick Rockets - 4...3...2...1...ignition!
• Molecules with Silly or Unusual Names - Caution! Parental discretion advised.
• Musical Chemistry - a frankly bizarre collection of songs whose lyrics have been re-written so as to make them contextually (if not socially) acceptable to sing in a Chemistry Lab.
• Ole Olestra! - not for the weak stomach!
  • The Facts About Olestra - the straight poop (pun intended) from the Center for Science in the Public Interest
• Periodic Table According to Organic Chemists - makes it easier!
• Science Frontiers - the unusual & unexplained...
• Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches - do NOT try this at home!
• The T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project - now here's an example of good lab reports!
• Weird Science - free energy, antigravity, telepathy, and so on.

(Please email Dr. David Anderson if any of these links don't work.)