Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is one of the most approachable yet powerful chromatography techniques. Building on the foundations of paper chromatography, TLC offers clearer results, faster separations, and more flexibility for scientists in the lab as well as learners in the classroom. Thin Layer Chromatography: A Brief History Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) emerged from scientific …
There are several types of chromatography, and the history is rich with exploration. This is the beginning of a blog series that dives deeper into the lab technique, starting with Mikhail Tsvet, who first started to explore the colourful world around us. History of Chromatography The first chromatography column was invented in 1901 by Russian …
Justus Liebig (1803 – 1873) was a German chemist that not only did groundbreaking work in organic chemistry and biological chemistry, he also transformed chemistry education and universities to be more inclusive of a variety of topics . The Man: Justus Liebig Justus von Liebig was born in 1803 in the south-central of Germany in …
Pick up a marker, and you’re writing in colour. The word “chromatography” is descriptive as it translates to “colour writing” from the Greek roots. But a simple marker is not as simple as you think. The primary colours are, but what about that orange marker? The purple? The green? That’s where things start getting interesting. …
How does a pH indicator work? Every one of us has come across a pH based experiment. My first one was the cabbage pH colour change when I was at a nerdy friend’s birthday party in 3rd grade. Most of us, though, are directed to dip the pH indicator strip into a liquid to see …
Editor’s note: This post has been updated and broken links removed. Please see our policy on broken hyperlinks for more. Copper sulphate (also spelt copper sulfate) is a common household chemical used for getting rid of algae in ponds and a fungicide for the garden and patio. It’s so much more than that from health to industry, …
Phthalates. Parabens. Pesticides. Lead. Industrial waste. All of these things are present in our lives. Clearly, the closer you live to a rural area, the more likely you’d be in contact with pesticides, and the closer you live to a city, the more likely you’ll come into contact with industrial waste. Since the early 2000s, …
Bismuth crystals. They are majestic and beautiful looking structures, and since bismuth melts at 520°F, it can even be made at home — if you have stainless steel pot you don’t mind sacrificing for science. All you need for this is a stove, a stainless steel pot, and a stainless steel spatula. Take a look …
It is a simple, everyday object with a long and science-y history…the match. Today, we may strike a match to light a birthday candle or bonfire or a charcoal grill or a celebratory cigar, but for our ancestors, the ability to consistently start a fire meant survival. They relied on fire for heat, cooking, and …
Famine is a real problem in certain areas of the world, and while we are not necessarily facing a food shortage as a planet just yet, many people are thinking ahead to the future. What will happen when our resources start to dwindle? How will our growing population sustain itself over time? As it turns …