Core Concepts In this article, you will learn the basic introductory concepts necessary to understand smog and acid rain. You will learn the necessary conditions and fundamental chemical reactions that create and destroy these atmospheric phenomena. You will also learn the health and environmental impacts of these pollutants. Related Articles Properties of Acids and Bases What Is pH? Acid Base Chemistry Smog Smog is a form of air pollution most frequently found in urban areas which refers to any type of atmospheric pollution that reduces visibility. There are two types of smog: sulfurous and ..read more

The Dangers of Chemical Threats [Alaina Rumrill] Throughout history, humans have used chemical weapons to create massive destruction with small chemical quantities [1]. An infamous example of a chemical weapon is mustard gas, used in World War 1. The properties of mustard gas cause severe burns and damage to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, leaving many people with long-term health consequences [2]. Chemical accidents also pose significant chemical threats. The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 ranks among the most significant chemical disasters in history, standing out as one of only two nucl ..read more

Exploring Nuclear Physics in Material Science [Alaina Rumrill] Dr. Miriam Rafailovich, Professor of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University, brings her expertise in nuclear physics to the forefront of material science. With a doctoral background in nuclear physics, she examines the properties and behaviors of atomic nuclei, paving the way for groundbreaking applications in various fields. Nuclear physics delves into the structure, the composition, and the interactions of atomic nuclei as well as nuclear reactions and decay [1].  One particular application of n ..read more

Core Concepts In this article, you will learn the basic introductory concepts necessary to understand the role of ozone in atmospheric systems. You will learn the fundamental chemical reactions that create and destroy this atmospheric constituent. You will also learn the health and environmental impacts of ozone. Topics Covered in Other Articles Catalysts & Activation Energy Free Radicals in Chemistry Radical Reactions Ozone Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms bonded in a bent geometry. There are two different kinds of ozone present in the atmosphere: stratospheric ozone an ..read more

Core Concepts In this article we will talk about amines and their respective properties, with a focus on the different types of amination reactions that they can participate in. Topics Covered in Other Articles Amine Functional Group Friedel Crafts Acylation and Alkylation Acid Chloride Functional Group Introduction to Amines An amine is a compound or functional group that contains at least a singular Nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia (NH₃) where one or more of the Hydrogen atoms are replaced with another group. Depending on how many Hydrogens are replaced deter ..read more

Core Concepts In this article, you will learn the basics of atmospheric chemistry including the chemical composition of the atmosphere, atmospheric constituents, aerosols, and a brief introduction to atmospheric cycles. Introduction The atmosphere is the thin layer of matter that surrounds our planet. The atmosphere actually contains gasses, liquids, and even solid particles. Colloquially, we use the terms air and atmosphere interchangeably; however, they reference different things. Air is primarily the combination of nitrogen, dioxygen, and argon. The atmosphere is the entire area of low-dens ..read more

Core Concepts Strain is an important concept in organic chemistry, often the most important factor in determining molecular structure. In this article, we explore the different types of strain and how each affects structure and molecular energy. Topics Covered on Other Articles Ring Conformation Conformational Isomers Chair Conformations What are Isomers? Constitutional Isomers What is Strain in Organic Chemistry Chemists use the term “steric strain” or just “strain” to describe forces of repulsion between parts of a molecule, resulting in a particular arrangement which limits this repulsion ..read more

Core Concepts In this article, we will discuss line structures and their applications in organic chemistry. Topics Covered in Other Articles Lewis Dot Structures Resonance Structures Newman Projections Ring Conformation Introduction to Line Structures In chemistry, there are multiple ways to represent the composition and/or structure of a compound including: Lewis Dot structures, condensed formulas, and Newman projections. Which representation a chemist chooses to work with depends on the information they are trying to convey. In organic chemistry, a popular choice is line structures (someti ..read more

Image depicting an aminoacyl-tRNA, or activated tRNACore Concepts In this article, you will learn about tRNA activation, the enzymes that facilitate it, and the steps in the tRNA activation reaction. Concepts Covered in Other Articles Central Dogma of Biology RNA A Journey into Protein Synthesis Gene Expression Introduction Transfer RNA molecules, also called tRNAs, have a crucial role in translation, the process of converting mRNA into a protein. tRNAs carry amino acids to their corresponding mRNA codons to build the amino acid chain. Before translation can occur, tRNAs have to bind with th ..read more

Nanoparticles In Perspective [Alaina Rumrill] Although nanoparticles have been utilized throughout human history, the term “nanoscience” was not formally used by scientists like Dr. George Schatz until the 1990s [1]. Nanoscience encompasses the study, manipulation, and engineering of matter, particles, and structures on the nanometer scale (1 millionth of a meter) [2]. To grasp the size of a nanoparticle, consider that one human hair is about 60,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide. DNA, by comparison, measures about 2.5 nanometers in diameter, while a person standing at 6 feet 6 inches would span t ..read more