Molecule of the Week

Chemistry surrounds us and is central to our understanding of everyday life. The chemicals and molecules that are highlighted on this page demonstrate the importance of chemistry in familiar and seemingly ordinary things and events. A new molecule will be added weekly, so keep checking back for interesting ways in which chemistry shapes our lives and our world. Special thanks to the American Chemical Society for their inspiring ACS “Molecule of the Week” feature. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Dr. David Hilmey.

 

Molecule of the Week: thujone    thujone  – absinthe 
   
Molecule of the Week: sucralose   sucralose – Splenda 
     
Molecule of the Week: putrescine putrescine – rotten fish
     
Molecule of the Week: phenacyl chloride   phenacyl chloride – CN gas
     
Molecule of the Week: histamine   histamine – allergies and asthma
     
Molecule of the Week: sarin   O-isopropyl-methyl-phosphonoflouridate – sarin (deadly nerve agent)
     
Molecule of the Week: Kevlar   polyparaphenylene terephthalamide – Kevlar
     
Molecule of the Week: Silly string   hexabromobenzene, polyisobutyl methacrylate, dibutyl phthalate,
dimethyl siloxane, sorbitan trioleate, etc. – Silly String
     
Molecule of the Week: Deoxycholic acid   deoxycholic acid – ATX-101 (chin fat drug)
     
Molecule of the Week: Magic acid   flourosulfonic acid & antimony pentaflouride – Magic Acid
     
Molecule of the Week-11: tryptophan   tryptophan – turkey-induced sleepiness