Chemistry Reference Libraries

Nylon, a synthetic polymer, was first produced by Wallace Carothers in 1935. It is one of the most commonly used polymers. The thermoplastic, silky material was first used in a nylon-bristled toothbrush, then women's stockings. Nylon was made of repeating units linked by amide bonds and is frequently referred to as ppolyamide (PA). There are two common methods of making nylon for fiber...

Cellophane, made of regenerated cellulose, is a thin, transparent sheet with low permeability to air, oils, greases, and bacteria. In many countries it is a registered trademark of Innovia Films Ltd. Cellulose from most sources is dissolved in alkali and carbon disulfide to make a solution called viscose that is then extruded through a slit into a bath of dilute sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate...

Dynamite, invented by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel in 1867, is an explosive that harnesses the potential of nitroglycerin to explode. Normally it is sold in an 8 inch long stick and weighs about .6 pounds although other sizes do exist. TNT is usually the standard by which explosive power is gauged; however, dynamite actually has more than 60% greater energy density than TNT. Nitroglycerin...

Fermium is a synthetic, radioactive metallic element. It has the symbol Fm and atomic number 100. It is an element in the actinide series. It is named after nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi. Fermium became the eighth transuranic (having an atomic number greater than 92) element discovered. It was first discovered in 1952 by a team of scientists led by Albert Ghiorso. They found fermium-255 in...

Europium is a chemical element with the symbol Eu and atomic number 63. Europium is named after the continent Europe. It is the most reactive of the rare earth elements. It rapidly oxidizes in air. Europium ignites in the air at around 302 degrees Fahrenheit. It is quite pliable (bendable). Although it was first discovered by Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1890, it is usually credited...

Erbium is a chemical element with the symbol Er and atomic number 68. Erbium is a rare, silvery-white metallic lanthanide (an element having an atomic number between 57 and 71). It is found solid in its natural state and is commonly found with several other elements in the mineral gadolinite. It is found in Ytterby, Sweden. Erbium was discovered by Carl Gustaf Mosander in 1843. Mosander...

Einsteinium is a metallic synthetic element with the symbol Es and atomic number 99. It became the seventh transuranic (atomic number higher than 99) element produced. It was named for Albert Einstein. It is an element found within the actinoid series which includes Actinium. Though it has only been produced in small amounts, it has been accurately determined to be silver in coloration. Like...

Dysprosium is a chemical element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66. This rare earth element has a metallic, bright silver luster. Dysprosium is not found freely in nature, but is found in various minerals, especially xenotime. It was first identified in 1886, but its pure form was not isolated until the use of ion exchange instruments were developed in the 1950s. Dysprosium salts are...

Curium is a synthetic radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cm and atomic number 96. This transuranic (atomic number greater than 92) element of the actinide series is produced by bombarding plutonium with helium ions. Curium does not occur naturally. A few commercial applications utilize the production of curium, but someday it may be useful in other areas including radioisotope...

Californium is a metallic chemical element. It has the symbol Cf and the atomic number 98. This is a radioactive transuranic (atomic number greater than 92) element. Californium is used for starting nuclear reactors, optimizing coal power plants, the treatment of cancer, and oil drilling. It was first produced by bombarding curium with helium ions. It was first synthesized in 1950 at UC...