June 2023

Selenium sample in glass tube

Selenium: An element that can’t make up its mind

6 Minute ReadIntroduction The chemical element Selenium. Atomic number 34. Chemical symbol Se. The quirky title I chose for this post – an element that can’t make up its mind – refers to the fact that selenium is generally considered a nonmetal. However, it has also been classed, by many investigators in the past, as a metalloid. […]

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Bunsen Burner

The Bunsen Burner, the Swan Bands and the Dicarbon Enigma

12 Minute ReadIntroduction The humble Bunsen Burner has been a ubiquitous piece of lab equipment ever since it was invented by the German chemist Robert Bunsen in 1855. A testament to its great success is that this very simple and efficient device still continues to be used in science teaching and research labs all over the world.

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