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Science Toolkit
Bromine solution
Br
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Bromine, an intermediate in making some organic chemicals, is also used in well drilling fluids and photographic film. Don’t touch the stuff though; it hurts like the dickens if you get it on your skin!
Under the Hood by Steve Franklin
Take a peek under the hood in an organic chemistry teaching lab. Pictured are a few of the chemicals that students may encounter, or even synthesize, in the lab.
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Acetone
(CH3)2CO
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Iodine crystals
I
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Iodine, a vital biological nutrient, is used in the lab to help with Grignard reactions. Often employed as a disinfectant, it can also be used to purify water.
Photo: Alex Wang. Set up and guidance: Dr. Conrad Fjetland.
The workhorse of the lab, acetone is used to clean glassware after an experiment and is also found in paint thinner and fingernail polish remover.