Neil deGrasse Tyson and Kate the Chemist Answer Chemistry Questions
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Published 2024-05-21
Fundamentally, what is a chemical reaction? Kate breaks down the basis of chemistry, how it overlaps with thermodynamics, and exo- versus endothermic reactions. Why is Gallium a liquid in the US but listed as a solid in the UK? Plus, Kate schools Neil on how adding salt to ice can help you make homemade ice cream.
If hydrogen and oxygen are both flammable, why isn’t water super flammable? We discuss how chemists predict a molecule’s properties. Learn about activation energy and how elements manage to even bond with each other. We break down combustion reactions and why sugar gets hard when you heat it to a certain temperature.
Are PFAS as dangerous as we think they are? We explain what PFAS are and what makes them problematic for our health. What gives colors to the elements? We talk about quantum dots, visible light, and what happens when you put sodium in water. All that, plus, what makes oxygen so special?
Thanks to our Patrons Mark Baum, Ezequiel Adatto, James Wright, Vector169, Ray Rimes, Christopher Haws, Ruben Ramen, Kim Fletter, Daniel Brown, and Joy Pinero-Deniz for supporting us this week.
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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00:00 - Introduction: Kate the Chemist
5:57 - What is a Chemical Reaction?
10:29 - Endothermic v. Exothermic Reactions
15:14 - Can You Predict a Chemical’s Properties?
18:34 - What is the Role of Activation Energy?
23:51 - The Chemistry of Candy
29:38 - Are PFAS as Dangerous as We Think?
34:05 - What Gives Things Color?
36:17 - Why Isn’t Water Flammable?
39:04 - Seeking a Scientist
40:53 - A Cosmic Perspective
All Comments (21)
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What's your favorite household chemistry experiment?
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Dear StarTalk organizers: we want more chemistry episodes, like this one. Preferably with prof. Kate Bieberdorf. Thank you!
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I wish i had a chemistry teacher like her when i was in school. So passionate and fun to listen to
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I have a feeling that Chuck is the coolest dude in 99.9 percent of the rooms he is in. Smart and funny is a deadly combo.
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The time flew by watching this. All of a sudden it was over. I'm thinking... Wait! More please!
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Her enthusiasm and energy is infectious! I first listened to the podcast and knew I had to watch her on youtube.
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Ok, l will admit it, I am now addicted to Science and Technology. Learning is so much fun with these three brilliant people. Cheers from Michael. Australia.
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Kate is a Chemistry monster like Neil is an AstroPhysics monster, damn
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14:14 I love this. When presented with a new/differing information from what was initially understood, you note it down, you go back, you study and do experiments. And you know what, you just know that after Neil is done with the experiment, he'll feel so happy that he learns something new, rather than feeling crushed because he got his understanding wrong all this time.
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Am I the only one taking pleasure in seeing NDT being challenged? “No, sir! You’re wrong!” 😂 love the show btw
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Kate is a great guest. Engaging, knowledgeable and a sense of humor
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Effectively, heating the sweetened condensed milk is a way to make "Dulce de leche". Greetings from Argentina!
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I love startalk, Neil and Chuck are the greatest! And I do enjoy the other hosts, I do, but it almost doesn't feel like startalk without Chuck 💯🧠💯
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She was referring to freezing point depression but describing enthalpy of mixing instead. Freezing point depression is not a decrease in temperature of the solution, it is the decrease in the freezing point of the mixture. Enthalpy of mixing is why solutions will change temperature when the components are mixed together.
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Many non-stick cookwear is essentially made with PFAS, which is very insidious because you're cooking and eating these chemicals directly. But as she said there are many sources - many PFAS also get into groundwater from industrial manufacturing - 3M is one notable company that makes all kinds of PFAS materials.
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PFAS and PFOA ( C8 chemical ) is something to look up and a movie called: Dark Waters with Mark Ruffalo is worth watching.👍
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Never seen her till now. I'll have to check her out
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My Argentinian mother in law have been making making Dulce de Leche through sweeten condensed milk cans. It's a staple for sweets in the Argentinian culture.
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17:36 "I'm looking down at my nucleus..." Chuck , you're the man, lol
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“Don’t bring your girl around Oxygen” 😂😭
