Most Popular
1500 questions
19
votes
2 answers
Synthesis Golf IV: Plaunotol
A full FAQ post has been written on meta.chem.SE, explaining the premise of synthesis golf and the 'rules'. Please take a look at this before answering (if you haven't already).
This fourth round of golf concerns the synthesis of plaunotol, a…
NotEvans.
- 17,137
- 4
- 69
- 137
19
votes
1 answer
Deliquescence/efflorescence: How can I convert between salt concentration and RH?
I am looking at two phase diagrams, one has axes of $T$ and $\%\ce{MgClO4}$ in a $\ce{H2O-MgClO4}$ mix, and the other has axes of $T$ and relative humidity. The authors of the second phase diagram say "The stability diagram is modified from [the…
E Kite
- 199
- 2
19
votes
1 answer
Is [7]сirculene aromatic or anti-aromatic?
This compound is called [7]circulene and is one of the examples of non-planar aromatic systems (1). From the first overview of this compound, it is observed that there are 7 benzene rings so one would conclude that it is an aromatic compound:…
Swastik
- 1,272
- 2
- 12
- 29
19
votes
5 answers
Can fluorine act as the central atom in interhalogen compounds?
Why can't fluorine be the central atom in inter-halogen compounds?
A $\ce{F-F}$ bond is weaker than a $\ce{F-X}$ bond and thus, fluorine should be happy to form inter-halogen compounds. But, why doesn't it act as the central atom?
In my textbook,…
Rajath Radhakrishnan
- 3,335
- 21
- 44
- 54
19
votes
1 answer
What did actually happen when Staudinger tried to synthesise diamond?
It is a famous reaction that used to be a teaching lab experiment, but is now banned in Germany, because it is too dangerous. To quote-translate quite liberally from the German www.seilnacht.com:
In a stone quarry near Zurich, Hermann Staudinger…
Martin - マーチン
- 44,013
- 13
- 159
- 319
19
votes
3 answers
Why not simulate every particle properties and interactions?
Today we have huge computational power (which is even significantly larger with supercomputers). I know that computational chemistry is used sometimes to predict particle properties. As I read on Wikipedia:
Present algorithms in computational…
CatusRomus
- 327
- 1
- 5
19
votes
1 answer
Does Br2/H2O oxidize all aldehydes including carbohydrates?
In many books, it is mentioned that aldehydes are easily oxidized even by mild oxidizing agents. However, I have never seen bromine water explicitly mentioned. But in the carbohydrates chapter, it is mentioned that glucose etc. are oxidized by…
Kartik
- 851
- 4
- 9
- 21
19
votes
3 answers
Why are the boiling points of aldehydes less than those of ketones?
Both aldehydes and ketones have a carbonyl group, but since the carbonyl group of ketone is between alkyl groups, wouldn't it be more difficult for it to form hydrogen bonds than aldehydes? Why then, do ketones have a higher boiling point than…
Rajath Radhakrishnan
- 3,335
- 21
- 44
- 54
19
votes
2 answers
What are the important implications to the field of chemistry, if any, of the hexavalent carbon species confirmed in 2017?
I’m struggling to understanding the true nature and implications of recent confirmations of the existence of stable species containing carbon atoms bound six (in another case 5) other carbon atoms. Is this really a breakthrough of science or one of…
airhuff
- 17,481
- 12
- 56
- 173
19
votes
1 answer
Difference between Coupled Cluster and Full CI
I'm looking at some high precision quantum chemistry methods like Coupled Cluster (CC) and FULL CI (FCI).
It seems both CC and FCI start from Hartree-Fock and then excite the electron to higher states.
If I understand correctly, CC uses an…
James LT
- 967
- 8
- 23
19
votes
3 answers
Quantitative expression for steric hindrance
Steric hinderance is a major component in determining the feasibility and the rate of a chemical reaction. Wouldn't it be useful to measure it quantitatively then? This would make it easier to compare the property of two molecules. Are there…
Reader Manifold
- 413
- 1
- 3
- 12
19
votes
1 answer
How do self-relighting (trick) birthday candles work?
You may have seen those birthday candles, where, upon blowing them out they smoulder for a bit and then (magically) relight.
How do they work? Why can't regular candles do this (is it possible for a regular candle to relight itself, anyway?)
Melanie Shebel
- 6,704
- 10
- 45
- 86
19
votes
2 answers
Why is H2SO4 a good dehydrating agent while other strong acids are not?
I understand that $\ce{H2SO4}$ is a very good dehydrating agent because it is a strong acid, so that it quickly donates $\ce{H+}$ to hydroxide ions in water to form $\ce{HSO4-}$ and $\ce{H3O+}$ .But we know that there are a lot of other acids…
Arishta
- 4,157
- 9
- 40
- 58
19
votes
1 answer
Is it possible create crystalline solvate of electrons?
Okay, I know that this reads ridiculous insane, but one can obtain solvated electrons by adding sodium metal to liquid ammonia solution.
The chemical reaction as written in my inorganic chemistry textbook is this:
$$\ce{Na + x NH3 -> Na+ +…
xyz123
- 537
- 2
- 8
19
votes
2 answers
Do the names of some elements have anything to do with planets?
There are elements like neptunium and plutonium in the periodic table. Did their discovery have anything to do with Neptune and Pluto? Or are they randomly assigned with such names?
Manisha Poudel
- 619
- 1
- 6
- 9