Terephthalic acid: Chemistry in its element

FromChemistry in its element

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Terephthalic acid: Chemistry in its element

FromChemistry in its element

ratings:

Length:

8 minutes

Released:

Jan 24, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Once thought of as an interesting – but useless – turpentine derivative, this oddly-named acid became the precursor to one of the world's most widely used plastics

Released:

Jan 24, 2020

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

A weekly tour of the periodic table, from Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

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Astatine: Chemistry in its element: Even the rarest element on Earth has its uses according to Mark Peplow by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Bromine: Chemistry in its element: Chemist and author John Emsley describes the history of this dangerous and very smelly chemical by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Oxygen: Chemistry in its element: Oxygen podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Barium: Chemistry in its element: What is the link between rat poison, fireworks, fine glass and enemas? Marine chemist Adina Paytan from the University of California Santa Cruz explains by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Lead: Chemistry in its element: Lead podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Neon: Chemistry in its element: Neon podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Mercury: Chemistry in its element: Mercury podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
5 min listen
Nitrogen: Chemistry in its element: Nitrogen podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Argon: Chemistry in its element: Author John Emsley explains how a very lazy element redeemed itself by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Silver: Chemistry in its element: Silver podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
4 min listen
Helium: Chemistry in its element: Helium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Tin: Chemistry in its element: Tin podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Hydrogen: Chemistry in its element: Hydrogen podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Polonium: Chemistry in its element: Polonium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Technetium: Chemistry in its element: Technetium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
5 min listen
Antimony: Chemistry in its element: Science writer Philip Ball tells the story of the element that started a war by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Gold: Chemistry in its element: Gold podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Beryllium: Chemistry in its element: Chemistry World's Richard Van Noorden on the element that gave us spark proof tools for the oil industry and a deadly lung condition by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Sulfur: Chemistry in its element: Sulfur podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Cerium: Chemistry in its element: UCL chemist Andrea Sella explains how he discovered a therapeutic use for his favourite element by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Radon: Chemistry in its element: Radon podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Erbium: Chemistry in its element: UCL's Andrea Sella tells us about a pink coloured element that contributed to the birth of spectroscopy by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Potassium: Chemistry in its element: Potassium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Magnesium: Chemistry in its element: Magnesium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Plutonium: Chemistry in its element: Plutonium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
6 min listen
Copper: Chemistry in its element: Poor copper, US chemist Steve Mylon from Lafayette College explains how a wonderful metal has been superficially overlooked by Chemistry in its element
5 min listen
Francium: Chemistry in its element: University of Cambridge's Peter Wothers goes hunting for the element that is named after France by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Radium: Chemistry in its element: Radium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
8 min listen
Bismuth: Chemistry in its element: UCL's Andrea Sella succumbs to the lure of shiny bars of bismuth by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen
Strontium: Chemistry in its element: Strontium podcast from Chemistry World - the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry. by Chemistry in its element
5 min listen

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Batteries: The bedrock of the sustainable future: In this special podcast produced in partnership with Waters Corporation, find out how understanding the chemistry and materials that go into batteries marks the first step towards making them safer and increasing energy density, and unlocks new... by Chemistry in its element
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Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element: How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? We explore the history of cinnamon and the compound that gives it its distinctive taste and aroma by Chemistry in its element
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Azidoazide azide: Chemistry in its element: A compound so explosively unstable that nobody has been able to measure how sensitive it is without it, well, exploding. by Chemistry in its element
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Ochre: Chemistry in its element: How one of mankind's oldest pigments helped shepherds secure their sheep and inspired one of the most popular songs of the twentieth century by Chemistry in its element
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Maltodextrin: Chemistry in its element: A sweet compound that provides ample energy for extreme endurance events – find out how maltodextrin helped Anna Ploszajski swim the English channel by Chemistry in its element
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Ionic liquids: Chemistry in its element: Liquid salts, ionic melts, fused salts, or ionic glasses – call them what you like, these much-hyped solvents show great promise. Katrina Krämer speaks to chemical engineer Jason Bara about ionic liquids. by Chemistry in its element
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Chlorhexidine: Chemistry in its element: An antimicrobial compound that kills bacteria and viruses quickly – found in some of the most colourful antiseptic solutions by Chemistry in its element
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Asparagusic acid: Chemistry in its element: Does asparagus give you foul-smelling urine? Helen Arney investigates asparagusic acid, and the lavatorial genetic lottery that controls whether or not you can smell its distinctive aroma by Chemistry in its element
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Glycyrrhizic acid: Chemistry in its element: Glycyrrhizic acid by Chemistry in its element
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Propofol: Chemistry in its element: Propofol by Chemistry in its element
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Sofosbuvir: Chemistry in its element: Sofosbuvir by Chemistry in its element
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Bedaquiline: Chemistry in its element: Meera Senthilingam makes a welcome return to the podcast with a drug that gives hope to the many sufferers of drug-resistant TB – still one of the world's biggest killers by Chemistry in its element
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Oxybenzone: Chemistry in its element: This summer's extreme weather prompts Katrina Krämer to investigate the history of sunblock and the ingredient blamed by some for bleaching coral reefs by Chemistry in its element
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Gypsum: Chemistry in its element: From Lavoisier’s experiments with plaster of paris to the the ‘Sistine Chapel of crystals’ in Mexico, Mike Freemantle explores the history of gypsum by Chemistry in its element
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Favipiravir: Chemistry in its element: Originally developed to treat flu and marketed in Japan as Avigan, promising Covid-19 trial results have seen countries stockpiling this medication by the millions by Chemistry in its element
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Tannic acid: Chemistry in its element: Tannic acid in green acorns can kill wild animals and livestock, but in this podcast Mike Freemantle makes plain that you can prevent poisoning with pannage pigs. by Chemistry in its element
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Ractopamine: Chemistry in its element: Common in the US but banned in the EU, this animal feed additive makes for muscular pigs and beefy international trade disputes. by Chemistry in its element
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Hexasilabenzene: Chemistry in its element: Brian Clegg discovers what a six-membered silicon ring can tell us about alien life by Chemistry in its element
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2AP (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline): Chemistry in its element: Frances Addison on the aromatic compound found in both buttered popcorn and the bearcat’s scent glands, and responsible for the distinctive smell of both by Chemistry in its element
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Dexamethasone: Chemistry in its element: News that this cheap, ubiquitous steroid drug may reduce deaths in Covid-19 cases has been greeted with cautious optimism. Ben Valsler looks at the history of dexamethasone and the promising Recovery trial results. by Chemistry in its element
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Porcelain: Chemistry in its element: Mike Freemantle on the art, history and science of this delicate, translucent ceramic material by Chemistry in its element
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Feldspar: Chemistry in its element: Brian Clegg introduces the humble mineral that delights both astronomers and archaeologists by Chemistry in its element
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Cimetidine: Chemistry in its element: Mike Freemantle introduces the peptic ulcer treatment cimetidine, which – as Tagamet – became the first 'blockbuster' drug by Chemistry in its element
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DMT – Dimethyltryptamine: Chemistry in its element: Georgia Mills investigates the psychoactive found in ayahuasca that may mirror near-death experiences by Chemistry in its element
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Oleic acid: Chemistry in its element: Brian Clegg discovers the link between olive oil, dandruff and stained glass windows. by Chemistry in its element
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Interferon beta: Chemistry in its element: An immune-modulating compound used to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and now showing potential against coronaviruses, interferon beta is the last of the WHO's Covid-19 Solidarity trial candidates to get the Chemistry in its element treatment. by Chemistry in its element
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Ritonavir: Chemistry in its element: The unexplained appearance and dramatic spread of a new form of HIV drug ritonavir hurt patients and cost its makers almost $250 million. Alexander Whiteside on the chemical phenomenon that links Irving Langmuir, H G Wells and Kurt Vonnegut. by Chemistry in its element
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Lopinavir: Chemistry in its element: Ben Valsler explains how a drug that prevents HIV from donning its protective 'coat' now makes up one arm of the World Health Organisation's Covid-19 trial by Chemistry in its element
7 min listen

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Terephthalic acid: Chemistry in its element

Terephthalic acid: Chemistry in its element

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Chemistry in its element