Arsenic: The Element of Surprise (and Murder)
Let’s dive into the sordid history of arsenic, the “King of Poisons” and the “Poison of Kings.” Our story begins in ancient times, when alchemists were busy trying to turn lead into gold. Little did they know, they were playing with fire – or rather, arsenic. Thes
Flame Test
A flame test is relatively quick test for the presence of some elements in a sample. The technique is archaic and of questionable reliability, but once was a component of qualitative inorganic analysis. The phenomenon is related to pyrotechnics and atomic emission spectroscopy. The color of t
Thistle tubes, thistle feeders, distelfinks and goldfinches
A thistle tube is a piece of laboratory glassware consisting of a shaft of tube, with a reservoir and funnel-like section at the top. Thistle tubes are typically used by chemists to add liquid to an existing system or apparatus. Thistle funnels are used t
The Devil’s Cocktail: A Tale of Glass, Flint, and Royal Curiosity
Picture this: It’s the 1740s, and the Royal Society – that illustrious club of powdered wigs and curious minds – is all abuzz about a devilish little contraption from Bologna, Italy. These aren’t your grandma’s pickle jars, oh no! These are Bologna bottles, also known a