Red Cabbage Chemistry - Sick Science! #105

...but the smell...

If you don't want to buy universal indicator, make yourself some red cabbage solution. It's cheaper. It's available at your local grocery store.

And it smells like cabbage.

You can - if you're a school - also buy cabbage extract powder from some science suppliers.

It's a great way to pass an afternoon...or just to entertain yourself while your significant other makes red cabbage to go along with the smoked sausages if you - like I - don't eat cabbage.

Results after the jump...in case you're too lazy to do the experiment yourself...

Revealing Van Gogh's True Colors

Current version (left) and digitally recolored version (right) from the SciFri story.

I have to confess that I hate Science Friday.

I like the idea of a weekly hour of science content on NPR, but I can't stand Ira Flatow. He's obnoxiously curious, interrupts his guests with inane questions, and just generally annoys the crap out of me. I prefer the show when he has a substitute host.

That being said, sometimes the guests have fascinating things to say. On this episode, Ira interviews the senior conservation scientist at the Art Institute of Chicago.

It's fascinating that the painting has faded with exposure to oxygen and light exposure and that Van Gogh knew this - not that he knew the chemistry but that he was aware of the fading of the paints overtime and painted in a way to allow for that.

Setting Fire to Glass - The "Nope" Chemical That is Chlorine Trifluoride

"Rocket scientist Dr. John D Clark famously said about the best way to deal with potential chlorine trifluoride rocket accidents, 'I have always recommended a good pair of running shoes.' "

Or, just don't go in the pool in the first place.

Chlorine trifluoride sound like something I absolutely, positively do not every want to come even remote contact with.

I love the concept of storing chlorine trifluoride inside a steel container that's been already fully oxidized with fluorine gas. In chemistry class, I mention the storage of fluorine gas similarly and use the analogy of asking the fat kid to hold onto - but not eat - your pan of brownies. The only way to do that safely is to already feed him brownies until he's sick to his stomach of brownies. Yeah, you've lost a whole bunch of brownies along the way, but your final pan of brownies is gonna be safe.



If the little dalliance in the middle of the video about hydrofluoric acid intrigues you, check out this post of mine from a few years back about hydrofluoric acid treatment.