Physical Science

One creative way to teach the periodic table is to become better informed on the subject.  In recent years the field of philosophy of chemistry has developed and has examined the nature of the periodic table in great detail.  One…
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A gaseous substance will be called a gas if it is above its boiling point, but a vapor if it is below. This sounds precise enough, but actually it is not. There is a lot of confusion to be sorted…
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Mercury (sometimes called quick silver) is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. It is also one of only two elements that are liquid at room temperature. The other liquid element is the halogen bromine. Named after the…
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In the late 1800s, isotopes puzzled scientists and transformed how science viewed the nature of atoms.  However, the confirmation of  and understanding of isotopes has lead to some incredible possibilities that go beyond scientific experiments. Now, these odd atoms serve…
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The night sky and all of its mystique and wonder, has captivated the minds of people for centuries. The thought of capturing an object hovering beyond the Earth’s hemisphere is something we all dream of, and that is what astrophotography…
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Isotopes are atoms which are all of the same element, but differ in terms of the number of neutrons in their nucleus. Although because they are the same elements they will generally be identical in terms of basic physical properties,…
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Ozone in Two Places The type of oxygen we are familiar with is diatomic oxygen, O2, the one we breathe. There is another molecular form of oxygen known as ozone, given by the chemical formula O3. It is now common…
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Brownian motion occurs when very small particles suspended in the fluid, seen under a microscope, appear to follow a zigzag trajectory of a totally random nature. Usually a phenomenon in science is not named for one who merely observes it,…
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The ancient pseudoscience of alchemy is the forerunner of modern chemistry. It began in China, India and Greece, and then was adopted by Egypt. Astrology was intertwined with their beliefs and practices of this primitive art. In order for any…
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Glowsticks, since their invention nearly 30 years ago, have been made popular by millions across the world. Without use of battery or bulb, without heat, the sticks provide light with a snap. The magic’ behind a glowstick’s light is due…
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