All Organic chemistry articles – Page 13
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Feature
Jesuits' powder and quinine
The powdered bark of the South American cinchona tree is the source of quinine - the mainstay treatment for malaria for centuries
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Lesson plan
Determining the structure of compounds | 16–18 years
Examine data relating to the structure and complexity of compounds, including mass, infrared and 1H NMR spectra
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Lesson plan
How was the first artificial dye made? | 16-18 years
Explore organic synthesis and the making of the first artificial dye, mauve, in a lesson plan and directed activity related to text (DART) for 16–18 year olds.
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Lesson plan
Rules for naming hydrocarbons: alkanes to arenes | 16-18 years
Review the rules for naming hydrocarbon structures, including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and arenes, using this lesson plan with activities for 16–18 year olds.
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Lesson plan
Nucleophilic substitution reaction mechanisms | 16-18 years
Help your students explore the mechanism for an organic nucleophilic substitution reaction using this lesson plan with activities for 16–18 year olds.
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Exhibition chemistry
Explosive nitrated carbon compounds
Demonstrations designed to capture the student's imagination
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Feature
Belladonna, broomsticks and brain chemistry
Poisonous plants such as deadly nightshade produce toxic tropane alkaloids. These chemicals have been exploited in magic, murder and the design of a host of useful therapeutic drugs
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The Mole
Soap: can you make it with body fat and is there an explosive spin-off?
On screen chemistry with Jonathan Hare
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Feature
Phenols in medicine
Phenol encountered in school or college chemistry laboratories demands special respect on account of its toxic and corrosive nature. But phenol and its derivatives do have a few medicinal surprises
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Feature
Pain relief: from coal tar to paracetamol
Analgesics, ie pain-relieving drugs, fall into two categories: those that also reduce body temperature in fevers (antipyretics), and those that act mainly on the brain - typically morphine and diamorphine/heroin. Here we consider members of the first group, particularly those once designated 'coal tar analgesics'. Paracetamol, our most popular over-the-counter pain killer, is one of these.
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Feature
Salty solvents – ionic really
Ionic compounds are usually high melting point solids. But mix together a powdered organic salt with aluminium chloride and the result is a clear, colourless, 'ionic liquid'