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Chemists turn key to new energy future

U chemists explain new reaction, demonstrating how quantum mechanics can help design more energy-efficient catalysts.

You’ve probably worn polyester clothes, and you’ve certainly used plenty of plastic objects and paint. But did you know that they come from natural gas?

The main component of natural gas, methane, has just one carbon atom and is the smallest fossil fuel. But as the ultimate source material for the above products and many others it packs an enormous punch. First, however, it must be converted to methanol, an alcohol—and there lies the challenge. (more…)

Secret of Scent Lies in Molecular Vibrations

By Guest PostFebruary 2, 2013General, Sciencealexander fleming, athens, atom, bonds, british chemist, bsrc, chemists, cyclopentadecanone, deuterium odorants, electron cloud, Greece, hydrogen atom, hydrogen musk molecules, inelastic electron tunnelling, lcn, luca turin, malcolm dyson, mass, molecular shape, molecular vibrations, nano scale changes, quantum mechanism, secret of scent, simon gane, spectroscope, ucl scientists, vibration of molecule

Molecular vibrations, rather than molecular shape, give substances their distinct smell according to a new study by UCL scientists.

In a study designed to find out how smell is written into a molecule’s structure, scientists tested whether changing how a molecule vibrates on a nano-scale changes its smell.

Molecules are made of atoms connected by bonds. The arrangement of bonds and atoms defines the vibration of the molecule. Chemists can therefore identify molecules by their vibrations, using a spectroscope. (more…)

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Chemists turn key to new energy future

Secret of Scent Lies in Molecular Vibrations