Articles written by Simon Davies
Showing 68 Articles
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Biological and Non-Biological Laundry Detergents
Is it better for health and the environment to use biological or non biological detergents?
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The Science of Autumn or Fall Leaves
Autumn's colours herald the end of summer and are followed by the Fall of the leaves, but why does it happen? It is all about protecting the trees.
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Haggai – Build for God First
Haggai exhorted the people to rebuild the temple, and encouraged them that God would fill it with his glory in a dramatic way.
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The Post-Exilic Bible Books
An overview of the history and content of the six post-exilic books of the Old Testament - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
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China in the Neolithic Period
The Neolithic period marks an important turning point in the development of the Chinese civilisation, as recognisable cultural communities developed.
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What is a Church?
A biblical definition of the Christian Church, as Jesus Christ meant it to be.
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Enjoying Open Air Concerts
Improve your enjoyment of open air rock, pop or classical concerts by preparing and understanding what will go on.
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The History of Polystyrene
The story of expanded polystyrene, a material that is used for packaging but also in CD cases and plastic model kits.
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Underground Coal Gasification
It is possible to use a much higher proportion of coal deposits by Underground Coal Gasification, a technique which turns coal into useful gases.
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Everyday Chemistry Investigation Projects
Ideas for conducting a scientific investigation of the chemistry of everyday objects and activities which could be used for a High School project.
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Linus Pauling Double Nobel Prize Winner
Linus Pauling was a genius who described the chemical bond, protein structure and the benefits of Vitamin C and became the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes.
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Will Measuring Food Miles Save the Environment?
The 'locavores' who advocate only eating local food to save the environment fail to take other food production issues into account.
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India Seeks Partnerships in Africa
While India is competing with China over Africa's oil, it is also looking for long term economic partnerships to enable both regions escape poverty.
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China Seeks African Energy Resources
China's rapid economic growth has led the Asian giant to look at Africa as an alternative source of resources, especailly oil and gas.
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The Periodic Table by E.R.Scerri
The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance is a new, readable book on the history and philosophy of the system of elements from UCLA lecturer Eric Scerri.
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Atmospheric Chemistry
From Greenhouse Gases to Acid Rain, the chemistry of the atmosphere is a hot topic. This article summarises the constituents of the air we breath.
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The Production and Uses of Zinc
The fourth most commonly used metal in the world, zinc is extracted from its ore and used for galvanization, alloying and much more.
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Environmental Chemistry
An introduction to the study of the chemistry of the environment: earth's crust, atmosphere and hydrosphere.
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Atomic Orbitals
Electrons in atoms are arranged in electronic energy levels, subshells and orbitals.
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LSD – Psychedelic Hallucinogen
The history of a drug with remarkable potential which was banned through misuse by "hippies."
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Gasification: Cleaner Electricity
In the light of Climate Change Agreements and worries over Carbon Footprints, a new technology is being developed which generates cleaner electricity from coal.
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DNA: The Information Molecule
The history and structure of the most important molecule in living organisms, Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
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Mass Spectrometry
How mass spectrometers work, to identify molecules and mixtures of compounds
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Cerium – Rare Earth Element
The chemistry and uses of an unknown element with a bright future!
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The Chemistry of Benzene
The solution to the problem of a mysterious chemical. Delocalised electrons make the molecule reactive and dangerous
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Chlorine For Water Treatment
Chlorination of drinking water supplies has probably saved many millions of lives, and could save millions more.
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Carbon Monoxide: Useful but Deadly
Carbon monoxide is a simple molecule which regularly gets a bad reputation in the press, but is continually useful in many parts of the chemical industry.
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The Chemistry of Glass
Glass is really a super-cooled liquid with a long history and fascinating chemistry.
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The Haber Process
The history of the Haber Process which saved the world from starving and may have prolonged World War I
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Surfactants: Cleaning Chemicals
Detergent chemicals called Sufactants which are in all common cleaning solutions. What are they and how do they work?
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Automated Peptide Synthesis
The discovery in 1963 by Bruce Merrifield of a way to automatically synthesise polypeptides and protiens accurately and without loss of yield.
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Kevlar: Bullet-Proof Polymer
Chemical structure and properties of the polymer which is used in body-armour and tennis rackets.
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Is Salt Bad for You?
Often demonised by "food experts" for causing high blood pressure and heart disease, this simple chemical is important in every diet but should be used in moderation
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Pauling and Sickle Cell Anemia
A summary of the research of Linus Pauling's Team in 1949 which led to his coining the term "Molecular Disease"
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The Chemistry of Sulfuric Acid
The manufacture and uses of a chemical which is produced in vast quantities the world over.
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Rates of Chemical Reactions
An overview of the important discipline of kinetics - the study of how fast chemical reactions go, what conditions affect these rates and why.
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Methods of Electroplating
An explanation of the industrial use of electrolysis to plate metals with other precious and protective metals
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Types of Polymers
A simple description of the most important categories of polymers: large molecules we could not live without.
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The History of Polymers
How did we come to depend on plastic, Teflon, Nylon and Lycra?
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The Discovery of Viagra
Sildenafil Citrate whose brand name is Viagra, is a very good example of the way the pharmaceutical industry is driven as much by luck as by design.
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Biography of Antoine Lavoisier
A French 18th century scientist who revolutionised the study of chemistry through his systematic methods but was executed in the French Revolution
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Metals and Non-Metals
Elements display very different properties depending on their position in the Periodic Table. How and why are some called metals and some non-metals?
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What is Physical Chemistry?
Burning fuels, refrigeration, radioactivity, enzymes and cookery all depend on processes and theories in a less glamorous branch of science.
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Cholesterol Chemistry
A chemical description of an infamous but important chemical which is ever-present in dietary advice.
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The Chemistry of Fat
Describing the importance of different kinds of fats in the human body. Explaining terms like Saturated, Mono-unsaturated and Poly-unsaturated, cis and trans.
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Wine Chemistry
An explanation of the chemical processes involved in the production of wine and in those that determine the appearance, flavour and aroma of different wines.
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How do Batteries Work?
A simple explanation of the way the batteries that we use in our laptop computers, mobile phones and mp3 players work.
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Electrochemistry
Electrolysis reactions are caused by the flow of charged particles between electrodes
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Proteins
Protein is one of the nutrients we must consume to stay healthy, but what is it and what does it do in the human body?
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Chemical Websites
A list of several useful science and chemistry orientated websites organised into different groups
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Oxidation and Reduction
A transfer of electrons happens in many important inorganic reactions, such as electrochemistry and extraction of metals from ores
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The Chemistry of Concrete
How cement reacts with water and the different types of admixture used in the construction industry
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Water – The Chemical for Life
Water is polar and contains hydrogen bonds between its molecules which makes it indispensable for life
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What is Biochemistry?
DNA, enzymes, fats, carbohydrates and hormones are all part of the discipline of Biochemistry.
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Zeolites – Chemicals for Cleaning
With applications in laundry detergents, nuclear power and hydrogen-powered vehicles, zeolites are chemicals of the future in the present
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What is Organic Chemistry?
Hydrocarbons, Benzene, Alcohol, Plastic, Amines are all organic, carbon-containing chemicals.
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What is Inorganic Chemistry?
Salts, acids, alkalies, catalysts and superconductors are all part of inorganic chemistry
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The Periodic Table of the Elements
A key tool for chemists throughout the world is the systematic arrangement of all known elements in the Periodic Table
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Molecular Bonds
Atoms join together to form molecules, but how are they held together?
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Atomic Structure
In order to understand many phenomena in the study of chemistry it is important to know how atoms are made up.
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How does Aspirin Work?
Aspirin kills pain, reduces inflammation and prevents heart attacks. A Wonder Drug!
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Chemistry Defined
Chemistry is the study of all matter and the changes that occur to all things.
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Effects of Caffeine
A description of the way the intake of caffeine affects the brain processes, causing alertness and pleasure.
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Colour-changes with Temperature
A simple explanation of the way thermochromic (colour-changing) chemicals work, and how they are used.
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Properties of Oxygen and Ozone
The most abundant element in the earth's crust and essential for respiration, Oxygen also gives us the ozone layer to protect us from UV and is a Greenhouse gas
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Úbeda - Renaissance Tourism
A guided tour of an undiscovered jewel of Renaissance architecture set in the spectacular countryside of northern Andalusia.
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New Carbon Molecules
The two forms of elemental Carbon - graphite and diamond - have been joined by further forms, the soccer ball-shaped Buckminsterfullerene and molecular-sized Nanotubes.
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Travel in the Sierra de Cazorla
The Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas is the largest Natural Park in Spain with mountains, waterfalls, diverse wildlife and picturesque villages.
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