User M.A.R.

212

votes

3

answers

29k

views

Why is gold golden?

Jun 5 at 14:45 Mathew Mahindaratne 23.6k

196

votes

1

answer

43k

views

Why can we smell copper?

everyday-chemistry metal transition-metals smell

Apr 17 '18 at 9:42 Archer 4,324

168

votes

8

answers

141k

views

Can an atom have more than 8 valence electrons? If not, why is 8 the limit?

physical-chemistry electrons electronic-configuration valence-bond-theory

Dec 15 '17 at 20:44 Oscar Lanzi 25k

106

votes

8

answers

61k

views

Is a negative pH level physically possible?

acid-base equilibrium ph

Aug 10 '19 at 8:56 Faded Giant♦ 39.5k

95

votes

5

answers

74k

views

How do you melt metals with super high melting points?

melting-point

Mar 15 '17 at 6:35 KyleCPM 1

79

votes

7

answers

116k

views

Why is the 2s orbital lower in energy than the 2p orbital when the electrons in 2s are usually farther from the nucleus?

energy electrons quantum-chemistry orbitals

Dec 24 at 6:20 Community♦ 1

73

votes

2

answers

29k

views

What is Bent's rule?

bond orbitals hybridization stereochemistry valence-bond-theory

Oct 21 '16 at 22:54 Community♦ 1

73

votes

4

answers

33k

views

Bonding in diatomic C2, a carbon-carbon quadruple bond?

theoretical-chemistry bond molecular-orbital-theory covalent-compounds

Jun 13 at 14:57 Mathew Mahindaratne 23.6k

63

votes

4

answers

19k

views

How does Walter White make pure crystal meth using a non-stereospecific reaction?

reaction-mechanism stereochemistry chemistry-in-fiction

Aug 15 '19 at 19:14 orthocresol♦ 53.2k

62

votes

4

answers

29k

views

Why do elements in columns 6 and 11 assume 'abnormal' electron configurations?

orbitals electronic-configuration transition-metals

Dec 24 at 6:28 Community♦ 1

58

votes

4

answers

45k

views

How can one explain niobium’s weird electronic configuration?

electronic-configuration transition-metals

Aug 22 '19 at 15:31 shibu sarkar 1

55

votes

4

answers

205k

views

Why add water first then acid?

acid-base experimental-chemistry safety

May 17 '19 at 6:42 Melanie♦ 6,176

53

votes

3

answers

8k

views

Why do we write NH3?

inorganic-chemistry nomenclature

Feb 11 '16 at 17:47 Faded Giant♦ 39.5k

52

votes

5

answers

10k

views

The last element's atomic number

physical-chemistry atoms nuclear elements

Jan 21 '18 at 17:44 Tyberius 9,700

51

votes

2

answers

52k

views

What makes some metals melt at higher temperature?

melting-point metal

Dec 24 at 7:10 Mathew Mahindaratne 23.6k

49

votes

1

answer

10k

views

Why does menthol (e.g. peppermint) feel cool to the tongue?

biochemistry

Oct 19 '15 at 14:04 Community♦ 1

44

votes

5

answers

58k

views

Why does bond angle decrease in the order H2O, H2S, H2Se?

bond periodic-trends hybridization molecular-structure

Jan 21 '19 at 23:29 Andrew 4,826

43

votes

4

answers

43k

views

Why do the names of most chemical elements end with -um or -ium?

nomenclature elements

Mar 21 '17 at 14:52 Community♦ 1

41

votes

4

answers

7k

views

What is more acidic: D3O+ in D2O or H3O+ in H2O and why?

acid-base kinetics isotope

Jun 19 '19 at 22:28 Mathew Mahindaratne 23.6k

41

votes

1

answer

4k

views

Why is methane's molecular formula conventionally “CH₄”, while water is “H₂O” (among others)?

nomenclature notation

Feb 21 '15 at 22:27 ron 76.8k

41

votes

3

answers

8k

views

Carbon atoms at the edge of a diamond

crystal-structure hybridization

Apr 22 '19 at 14:43 Jaimes Beam 1

40

votes

5

answers

7k

views

How can antibonding orbitals be more antibonding than bonding orbitals are bonding?

bond quantum-chemistry molecular-orbital-theory

Dec 27 '18 at 12:46 Tan Yong Boon 8,265

40

votes

1

answer

85k

views

Differences between phenols and alcohols

organic-chemistry alcohols phenols

Nov 5 at 23:00 Community♦ 1

40

votes

3

answers

13k

views

Why do impurities lower the melting point of an isolated substance?

thermodynamics mixtures melting-point

Dec 14 '15 at 12:19 M.A.R. 9,500

40

votes

5

answers

38k

views

Is there any substance that's a 4-4-4 on the NFPA diamond?

safety toxicity

Oct 17 '17 at 3:09 andselisk♦ 30.2k

39

votes

3

answers

5k

views

Do molecules with bridges through rings exist?

organic-chemistry molecular-structure molecules

Jun 30 at 11:23 Mathew Mahindaratne 23.6k

39

votes

3

answers

106k

views

What is the inert pair effect?

inorganic-chemistry quantum-chemistry orbitals periodic-trends relativistic

Mar 1 '18 at 18:48 pentavalentcarbon 6,919

38

votes

2

answers

7k

views

Why is arsenous acid denoted H3AsO3?

inorganic-chemistry acid-base nomenclature

Mar 19 '19 at 4:32 A.K. 11.3k

37

votes

4

answers

8k

views

What exactly is happening when sodium, potassium, or other alkali metal explodes in water?

physical-chemistry reaction-mechanism explosives

Jul 7 at 16:57 Mathew Mahindaratne 23.6k

37

votes

4

answers

43k

views

The reason behind the steep rise in pH in the acid base titration curve

acid-base ph

Dec 3 at 21:49 Community♦ 1

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Why is gold golden?

Why can we smell copper?

Can an atom have more than 8 valence electrons? If not, why is 8 the limit?

Is a negative pH level physically possible?

How do you melt metals with super high melting points?

Why is the 2s orbital lower in energy than the 2p orbital when the electrons in 2s are usually farther from the nucleus?

What is Bent's rule?

Bonding in diatomic C2, a carbon-carbon quadruple bond?

How does Walter White make pure crystal meth using a non-stereospecific reaction?

Why do elements in columns 6 and 11 assume 'abnormal' electron configurations?

How can one explain niobium’s weird electronic configuration?

Why add water first then acid?

Why do we write NH3?

The last element's atomic number

What makes some metals melt at higher temperature?

Why does menthol (e.g. peppermint) feel cool to the tongue?

Why does bond angle decrease in the order H2O, H2S, H2Se?

Why do the names of most chemical elements end with -um or -ium?

What is more acidic: D3O+ in D2O or H3O+ in H2O and why?

Why is methane's molecular formula conventionally “CH₄”, while water is “H₂O” (among others)?

Carbon atoms at the edge of a diamond

How can antibonding orbitals be more antibonding than bonding orbitals are bonding?

Differences between phenols and alcohols

Why do impurities lower the melting point of an isolated substance?

Is there any substance that's a 4-4-4 on the NFPA diamond?

Do molecules with bridges through rings exist?

What is the inert pair effect?

Why is arsenous acid denoted H3AsO3?

What exactly is happening when sodium, potassium, or other alkali metal explodes in water?

The reason behind the steep rise in pH in the acid base titration curve