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A difficult concept for many students to understand is the energy involved in breaking and forming bonds. A hydrate is a substance that has water bonded to it. In order to dehydrate you must add energy (endothermic) to break the bond to water. When hydrating you are forming a bond to water and will release energy (exothermic). This visual demons...
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This video shows you how to make Methamphetamine. The process for making it in chemistry terms is called an acid catalyzed dehydration of an alcohol using an E2 mechanism. The chemical compound being used is called Ephedrine. To turn Ephedrine into Methamphetamine you first need to break down the OH molecule and replace it with a H molecule. In ...
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Trippy! Get the kids around the table for this one. Here is the official Steve Spangler explanation: "Milk is mostly water but it also contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, and tiny droplets of fat suspended in solution. Fats and proteins are sensitive to changes in the surrounding solution (the milk). When you add soap, the weak chemical bonds...
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Triboluminescence is the quality that makes a substance emit light when you crush, smash, hit, or otherwise break it's molecular bonds. If you want some triboluminescent (smash-glow) crystals, watch this video to learn how to make some out of a battery, glowpaint, and fire.
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As Theo Gray of Gray Matter demonstrates below, contrary to what the ads may say, diamonds CAN expire. Especially when attacked with a blow torch and liquid nitrogen. Gray says: "Diamonds are neither rare nor intrinsically valuable nor uniquely romantic. Those are ideas invented by the diamond industry. The diamond has one legitimate claim to fa...
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Check out this video tutorial on how to solve the Hanayama Cast Quartet metal puzzle. These cast iron Hanayama puzzles are a great way to kill time and sharpen your mind, and this Cast Quartet puzzle will do that with a level 6 out of 6 in difficulty.
From Hanayama himself: True bonds has always been hard to form, but once formed such bonds a...
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Learn how to solve the Hanayama Cast Quartet metal puzzle. Hanayama cast iron puzzles are the perfect solution to being bored. This video tutorial will show you exactly how to solve this mind boggling Cast Quartet puzzle, which is rated a 6 out of 6 in difficulty by Hanayama.
Hanayama: True bonds has always been hard to form, but once formed ...
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Jewel weed is found in swamps lakes and wet places. This how-to video demonstrates using the jewel weed stems on the infected area until the bumps or blisters break open. Jewel weed has a chemical that neutralizes poison ivy, oak, or sumac oil, so it's okay to scratch with Jewel Weed. Jewel weed also works well on mosquito bites, burns, and skin...
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PopSci's Gray Matter explains how to "hack light", a simple project that calls for glow sticks, diagonal cutters and Drano. Here's the science behind it: "When you bend a light stick, you break open a glass ampule inside. Diphenyl oxalate in the ampule reacts with hydrogen peroxide in the surrounding solution to form peroxyacid ester, a high-ene...
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Believe it or not, survival in a temperate environment is easy. In the woods one can die from a number of different things. However, by simply having the knowledge and exploiting what you know, the woods can become a home and a new reality. By having a simple blade, one can fashion his own tools and his own means for survival. NOTE: Before consi...
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Whenever you come across fertile wine country, wine tasting is often one of the most rewarding excursions available. If you long to walk through the vineyards and admire the grapevines and picturesque backdrop, wine glass in hand, you must first learn to appreciate the subtle beauty of wine . Look at the wine , especially around the edges. Tilti...
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A beautiful lawn is easier to have and maintain than the professional lawn-care people want you to think. Sadly, their way of maintaining lawns is dictated by the fertilizer makers and not by grass know-how or science. Stop fertilizing your lawn repeatedly. Lots of fertilizer encourages rapid grass growth, making the grass plants more vulnerable...
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This experiment is intended to introduce students to hydrated compounds. These compounds have water molecules coordinated in their chemical structures. Examples CuSO4*5H2O, BaCl2*2H2O, and NaC2H3O2*3H2O.
Notice each formula has a " between the compounds formula and the number of water molecules that are coordinated in the structure. The " rep...
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Most homes are sitting on a treasure trove of useful space: the basement. However, many basements in older homes are damp or leaky, and make unsuitable choices for a new rec room or bedroom. Before you can start any basement remodeling project, you have to keep the water out. Evaluate the perimeter of your house. You should ensure that the groun...
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Did you just buy a new laptop of other device, only to find it covered in unattractive stickers?. Time to remove those stickers and free your hardware from its role as a traveling advertisement. Make sure this laptop isn't too old . The stickers will dry up, and over time, the glue backing will separate from the printed material. If you decide t...
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First off, don't be frustrated. YOU CAN DO IT! Contrary to the message in the image above, it's NOT over. It's just beginning. And when it comes to solving the New York Times crossword puzzle, the old cliche does apply: practice makes perfect. I've read quite a few books and articles on solving crosswords. Many of them have useful information, s...
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Do you want to take really good care of your little Parakeet companion? These genuine parrots are amazing, intelligent birds, generally good natured that make really neat, fascinating and entertaining pets. Here's how to keep yours happy and healthy! Prepare the cage. Line the cage with paper towels or copy paper, a better choice than newspaper,...
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Mice too boring for you? Maybe you should try having a pet rat. They make great pets! They're sweet, smart, friendly, social, and active--as well as very entertaining--and you can learn how to take care of them through the following instructions. Get your pet rats . Getting at least two of the same gender (unless they are spayed/neutered) is STR...
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These instructions are for making a novelty fake ID suitable for gifts and practical humor. This tutorial is designed to help you replicate a driver’s license. You can replicate both 30 mil PVC driver’s licenses as well as thinner, bendable driver’s licenses. The methods provided in this tutorial are designed for novelty purposes only. It is ill...
