Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [chemistry]

The science of matter and the changes it can undergo.

151 questions
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Do atoms exist?

There are plenty of examples of people doubting ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5]) or denying ([6], [7], [8]) the existence of atoms. Is there any compelling evidence for the existence of atoms? Has anyone ever actually seen one? Are there any pictures of…
nima
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Are 19.6 pounds of CO2 produced from burning a gallon of gasoline?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, About 19.6 pounds [8.89 kg] of CO2 are produced from burning a gallon of gasoline that does not contain fuel ethanol. About 12.7 pounds [5.76 kg] of CO2 are produced when a gallon [3.8…
user1717828
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Does microwaving food create particles that are not created when warming food by conventional means?

I was reading "Szlachetne Zdrowie" (No 7/2019) which is a Polish health magazine released by "Nasz Dziennik", which is a Catholic, very conservative newspaper of questionable quality. I read the chapter about microwaving written by Barbara Zielonka.…
Learner
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Are old glass panes thicker on the bottom due to "flow"?

I ran into this common belief today, and was surprised that it has not been addressed here before. I think this belief is common enough that most anyone has heard it. Especially if they are touring a medieval villa in Europe, or other ancient…
Larian LeQuella
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Is Adrenochrome an addictive drug only obtained by drinking blood?

One of the core beliefs of QAnon is that some people are addicted to adrenochrome that can only be obtained by drinking the blood of frightened victims. Sean Morgan, author of a QAnon FAQ, talks about Adrenochrome, but admits there is no hard…
Oddthinking
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Is monosodium glutamate (MSG) bad for you?

Anecdotal evidence blames the consumption of MSG for several symptoms such as headache, nausea, weakness, heart palpitations etc. Most migraine literature cites MSG as a potential trigger (example) but usually without any scientific basis. A quick…
Flash
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Do emotionally-driven tears release toxins from the body?

Sometime ago I'd heard someone trained in child psychology claim that crying for emotional reasons (as opposed to getting something in your eye for example) released toxins from the brain and/or body. More specifically, she claimed that…
eMansipater
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Can you recharge non-rechargeable alkaline batteries?

There are conflicting reports of whether it is possible to safely recharge alkaline batteries (not lithium) that are not sold as rechargable. The packaging for batteries regularly has cautions against recharging. However, there are also claims…
Chris Dennett
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Is CPH4 from science fiction movie 'Lucy' real?

In the science-fiction film Lucy, the titular character takes a drug called CPH4 that increases her brain capacity. The writer and director of the film, Luc Besson, claims in several interviews that this drug is based on a real chemical…
svick
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Is alcohol for consumption tested for carbon-14 radioactivity to be considered legal?

I just viewed this interesting video about radioactive ethanol from plants as opposed to non-radioactive ethanol from crude oil. In it, the professor says he's heard it's illegal in the USA to sell alcoholic drinks if they are not radioactive from…
Decent Dabbler
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Do magnetic water softeners work?

I'm extremely skeptical of the idea of magnetic water softeners (strong magnets attached to pipes), but desperately wish it were true because I hate lugging 40# bags of salt out to my well house in the hot Texas sun. I'd love to see some objective…
JohnFx
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Is warm water more effective than cold water for washing one's hands?

When washing my hands, I was always told to use warm soapy water. However, is there any chemical or biological reason why warm soapy water is more effective to cold soapy water when trying to sanitise your hands? For example, a reason given for…
Richard Stelling
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What happens when you mix Lysol and bleach?

My mother just forwarded an email to all her contacts (thanks, mom), warning us of the dangers of mixing Lysol and bleach together. Here's most the content, translated from French: Bleach and Lysol, a lethal mix If the experience of my friend can…
Borror0
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Does baking soda remove odors?

I have always been told that an open box of baking soda will "absorb" odors and make a fridge smell less. I have even seen people with three boxes in one fridge. My question is whether there is any scientific evidence for this claim. It seems…
Brad
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Does putting salt into a wound make the wound worse?

It's commonly believed that the idiom "rubbing salt into the wound" is derived from a literal action of making things worse. Wiktionary claims the literal act was done for torture: Derived from the stingingly painful sensation of table salt …
Andrew Grimm
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