Amylase: Chemistry in its element
Brian Clegg on the enzymes make life a little sweeter by breaking down starch into sugars, helping to make bread and beer
14 Feb 20207min
Hydroquinone: Chemistry in its element
Georgia Mills on a compound that explodes from a beetle's bum, and has a controversial role in skin depigmentation
7 Feb 20206min
Sodium cyanide: Chemistry in its element
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Baia Mare disaster, when toxic sodium cyanide spilled from a gold processing plant led to ecological damage on a huge scale. Mike Freemantle tells the tragi...
31 Jan 20207min
Terephthalic acid: Chemistry in its element
Once thought of as an interesting – but useless – turpentine derivative, this oddly-named acid became the precursor to one of the world's most widely used plastics
24 Jan 20207min
Cobalt oxide: Chemistry in its Element
From ancient Egyptian pottery to distinctive blue bottles, cobalt oxide has been providing 'chemically and artistically perfect' pigments for centuries
17 Jan 20206min
Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin
If you're trying out a vegan diet, you're likely to be told to make sure you get enough vitamin B12. Ben Valsler asks what B12 does, where we get it from, and how can we be sure we're getting enough?
10 Jan 20207min
The Elements Song 2019: Chemistry in its Element
To celebrate 2019 – the International Year of the Periodic Table – we're joined by Helen Arney and the Waterbeach Brass Band with an updated version of Tom Lehrer's elements song. See the video, feat...
20 Dec 20194min
Iminosugars: Chemistry in its element
After promising results treating ill pets, some researchers think iminosugars could become treatments for infection and even cancer. Mike Freemantle explores the buzz about iminohoney.
13 Dec 20197min
