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Outline of chemistry

Branches of chemistry

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Why do onions make you cry?

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Why do onions make you cry? Who has never cried while cutting an onion? (well, apart from those who have never cut one hehehe). This is a little explanation in easy terms. Inside the onion cells there are some chemical compounds that contain sulfur. When you cut an onion its cells are broken and those chemical compounds then undergo a reaction that transforms them into a more volatile sulfured products, which are released into the air. These sulfured compounds react with the moisture in your eyes forming sulfuric acid, which produces a burning sensation. The nerve endings in your eyes are very sensitive and so they pick up on this irritation. The brain reacts by telling your tear ducts to produce more water, to dilute the irritating acid. So you cry to keep your eyes protected from the acid. There are some tricks to make onion-dicing less problematic: - Chop the onion under cold water . The volatile sulfured compounds will be released but then they react with the w...
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The sparkling truth about Diamonds

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Diamonds are always called a girl's best friend. They are formed from carbon and are used for a variety of purposes from jewellery to use in lasers and cutting and polishing tools. Though most diamonds are colourless you do come across a few; rare coloured diamonds. What are diamonds? Diamonds derive their name from the Greek word for unbreakable - adamas. They are the hardest, naturally occurring substance on the planet. Diamonds are one of the several allotropes of carbon. Diamond is considered less stable than graphite. The chemical makeup of diamonds ensures that they have very few impurities, making them ideal for optical applications. They are also excellent conductors of heat. So if you ever place a large diamond in your mouth it would be quite cool to feel. Place a large diamond in your mouth and it would feel quite cool being an excellent conductor of heat. How are diamonds formed? When deposits of carbon are exposed to high pressure and temperatu...
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