Week Six: Electrochemistry and Alchemy

Halogen of the Week: Chlorine

I'm a fairly regular swimmer, so I'm curious about Chlorine. Just learned that "Halogen" is from the greek meaning "Salt former". All of the halogens bind with sodium to form different salts. As with all halogens, in its elemental form chlorine is a gas.

Chlorine is the most abundant element on earth, even more abundant than carbon. I would guess this is largely because its presence in the salt of the ocean. In addition, though, chlorine exists naturally in fungal life on earth. Chlorine reacts with things in nature creating organochlorines. The organochlorines can be used as anti-bacterials and anti-cancer drugs. An ecuadorian tree frog produces one that is ten times more potent than morphine for pain relief.

Chlorine has been used as a weapon in bombs since WWII. It is also used in the manufacture of PVC, which in turn creates dioxins in the environment. As for the pool, it's not that great for you, especially if you swim in an indoor, highly chlorinated pool. Happily, the pool I swim in is outdoors and doesn't smell much like chlorine. I figure I'm better off swimming, getting exercise and enjoying myself than worrying about chlorine.

Electrochemical Science Toys

These are certainly ingenious. I am definitely not the type of person who should try this at home. I don't want to electrocute myself or a family member.

Alchemy: Science Magic or Art

Alchemy and science are really the same thing, in my mind. I feel like by labeling something as "alchemy", people denigrate ideas that are outside of the mainstream. In reality, however, the most exciting ideas in science are so "out there" that they seem like magic. Unfortunately, most people don't know that. The Alchemists brought tremendous creativity and ingenuity to bear on the mysteries of the world. I think that scientists do the same thing. Thus, alchemy is art is science is alchemy.