Table of Contents
Chemistry is full of fascinating facts that reveal the wonders of the natural world. For example, water is densest at 4°C, which is why ice floats. Gold, one of the most malleable metals, can be beaten into a sheet of 1 square meter from just one gram. Inhaling helium changes your voice pitch because sound travels faster through helium than air. Carbon takes many forms, including graphite and diamonds, each with unique properties. Bananas emit small amounts of radiation due to potassium-40. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, while oxygen is the most common in the Earth’s crust. Liquid oxygen is pale blue and magnetic. The smell of sulfur compounds is familiar in rotten eggs and skunk spray. Lastly, Antoine Lavoisier, the “Father of Modern Chemistry,” discovered oxygen’s role in combustion and established the law of conservation of mass.
10 Chemistry Facts
- Water is Weird Water expands when it freezes. Most substances contract when they get colder, but water does the opposite. This is why ice floats on water.
- Oxygen is Everywhere Oxygen makes up about 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It’s also in the water we drink and the air we breathe, making it essential for life.
- Helium is Light Helium is lighter than air, which is why balloons filled with helium float. It’s the second most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen.
- Salt is a Compound Table salt is made of sodium and chlorine. Separately, these elements can be dangerous, but together they form the harmless salt we use every day.
- Gold is Non-reactive Gold doesn’t tarnish or rust. It’s one of the least reactive elements, which is why it has been used in coins, jewelry, and electronics for centuries.
- Mercury is Liquid Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. It’s used in thermometers, barometers, and other scientific instruments.
- Carbon is Life’s Building Block All living things are made of carbon. It’s a versatile element that can form many different kinds of compounds, including those that make up our bodies.
- Chemistry is Colorful Different chemicals burn with different colors. For example, copper burns green, sodium burns yellow, and potassium burns purple. This is often seen in fireworks.
- Diamonds and Graphite are Alike Diamonds and graphite are both forms of carbon. Despite being made of the same element, they have very different properties. Diamonds are hard and used in jewelry, while graphite is soft and used in pencils.
- Bubbles are Trapped Air Bubbles are just pockets of air trapped in a liquid. They form when gas is blown into a liquid and get coated by a thin layer of the liquid.
Chemistry Facts on FAQs
What are 3 things about chemistry?
Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, and how substances change.
What are 2 facts about chemists?
Chemists study substances to learn what they're made of and how they can be used. They work in labs to make new materials and solve problems.
What are chemistry facts for kids?
Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen. Everything around us is made of tiny particles called atoms.
What are the facts about chemistry in day-to-day life?
Cooking food involves chemical reactions. Soap cleans by breaking down grease and dirt.
Did you know facts in chemistry?
The human body is about 60% water. Salt is made of sodium and chlorine.
What is interesting in chemistry?
Chemistry explains why fireworks explode in colors and why food tastes different.
