Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Funny Molecules

Al Koholic - 29-5-2008 at 10:16

http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/sillymolecules/sillymols.htm

I thought this was rather enjoyable. You all will probably like it as well!

Al

Magpie - 29-5-2008 at 22:04

Al, this list is very entertaining. ;)

Although not funny, I couldn't help but think of Unobtainium. This chemical has variable composition and structure and is often sought by the home chemist. Its rarity varies from country to country, depending on government whim. :(

pantone159 - 29-5-2008 at 23:26

Quote:
Originally posted by MagpieAlthough not funny, I couldn't help but think of Unobtainium. This chemical has variable composition and structure and is often sought by the home chemist. Its rarity varies from country to country, depending on government whim. :(


Here it isn't even a metal, despite the -ium name, but rather is a red powder with Z=15.

Klute - 30-5-2008 at 05:17

That page is hilarious, thank you for the link Al Koholic!

chemrox - 30-5-2008 at 23:19

must be a brit.

MagicJigPipe - 31-5-2008 at 07:16

Some of them I didn't get at all like "Arsenolite" and "Phthalic acid" or "homo-phthalic acid". What the hell is so funny about that? Only a couple where hilarious to me like "Cummingtonite".

woelen - 31-5-2008 at 10:15

Phthalic sometimes is misspelled as phallic. Whether this is fun or not is a matter of taste :P

pantone159 - 31-5-2008 at 10:33

Quote:
Originally posted by MagicJigPipe
Some of them I didn't get at all like "Arsenolite"


British ('arse') == USA ('ass'). With the exception of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. :)

The same group also has a 'molecule of the month' page which is often an interesting read.
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/motm.htm

MagicJigPipe - 31-5-2008 at 11:10

I didn't know what "phallic" meant until I looked it up. Is this some kind of European thing or am I just out of the loop?

12AX7 - 31-5-2008 at 23:08

How can one not know what "phallic" means? :o

crazyboy - 1-6-2008 at 10:46

I enjoyed that especially "Cummingtonite" but alot of them I got but I didn't find funny like "Megaphone" and some I flat out didn't get like "Phthalic acid" I had to look up the word "phallic"

Sorry 12AX7 if we aren't all avid readers of Freudian theory.

DJF90 - 1-6-2008 at 12:44

Nice remark pantone159! That red powder is rather elusive isn't it... Luckily I'm in the UK so when it comes to stocking up on chemicals I should be ok :D I really want some P2O5 though :P

franklyn - 1-6-2008 at 17:02

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=6439&a...

JohnWW - 1-6-2008 at 18:07

Quote:
Originally posted by pantone159
Quote:
Originally posted by MagpieAlthough not funny, I couldn't help but think of Unobtainium. This chemical has variable composition and structure and is often sought by the home chemist. Its rarity varies from country to country, depending on government whim. :(

Here it isn't even a metal, despite the -ium name, but rather is a red powder with Z=15.

You will just have to make your own, by reducing phosphates found in fertilizers and especially rock phosphate. There is a long thread on this in the "Chemistry in general" section.