19Sep 2016 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

What Is the Difference Between Table Salt and Other Salts?

Chemistry, Food
Nice try, but “s” is not the correct answer. There is a difference and there is no difference between them. Both are correct. There is a difference and there is not a difference between table salt and other salt(s). Difference Between Table Salt and Salts Table salt, chemical name sodium chloride, is written NaCl. Yes, we call it salt and we sprinkle it on our food. It enhances flavor to the palate. But to the chemist, it is merely one of thousands – millions of salts. So what is a salt to a chemist? It is one of two products (the other ordinarily water) of an acid-base reaction. Consider an example. An Example of a Salt Formation Calcium hydroxide plus sulfuric acid produces calcium sulfate plus water. Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4…
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22Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers 14 Comments

Why Sulfuric Acid Turns Sugar Black

Chemistry
Sugar is white. Sulfuric acid is colorless. So how is it sulfuric acid turns sugar black? Table sugar is actually two sugars in one—a disaccharide. It is commonly known as sucrose. Sucrose is a combination of fructose, a sugar found in fruits, and glucose, known also as blood-sugar, grape-sugar, and corn-sugar. Its chemical formula is C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. The way these atoms are attached to each other by chemical bonds determines its structural formula. In the Left Corner… Most sugar from a grocery store is granular and pure white. If the grains are large enough—existing as large crystals—it is immediately apparent that sugar isn't even white; it is totally colorless and transparent. Sold at candy stores, we call it rock candy. [sc name="MidArticleAdsense"] In the Right Corner… Concentrated sulfuric acid is thick…
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