• Question: how do u know if ur good at science ? i dont think i am but i enjoy chemistry i would love to make explosions what is the most dangerous chemical that explodes or makes a bang !!!!!!!

    Asked by narty to Christine, Edd, Jess, Nicolas, Zara on 17 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Zara Gladman

      Zara Gladman answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      I think enjoying science is a good start! If you enjoy it, you’re more likely to work hard at it.

      As for dangerous chemicals… I don’t know what the most dangerous one is but adding alkali metals like caesium to water is fun.. watch this video (right to the end!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uixxJtJPVXk

      If you want to make your own explosion then I posted one on this page:
      /ecologyj11-zone/2011/06/what-suggestions-have-you-got-for-the-experiments-my-teacher-can-do-for-my-class

    • Photo: Nicolas Biber

      Nicolas Biber answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Being good at science has a lot to do with how curious you are, how much you want to find out stuff. Anyone who has this desire to find answers can be good at science.
      As for the explosion: The classic is hydrogen plus oxygen in a balloon … and then light the whole thing 🙂 … you should really take cover though

    • Photo: Christine Switzer

      Christine Switzer answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Chemistry is cool. You can do all sorts of interesting things with chemistry, not just make things that go boom. Chemistry makes medicines that cure diseases, creates fuel that makes energy for us to use, materials for buildings and materials. There are all sorts of interesting things that chemistry helps us to do. I like explosions as much as the next person, but what I like better is using science to prevent unnecessary fires or explosions… or extinguish the fires that are out of control.

      As for how you know you are good at science? There are a few ways. Marks in school show if you are good at remembering and applying it in an exam or similar. Not everybody is and it does not mean that you aren’t any good at science. Experiments and practicals can show you if you are better at more hands-on science. Some of my best students have been not so great at the classroom stuff but fantastic once they got a chance to work on something practical.

    • Photo: Edward Codling

      Edward Codling answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Science is all about asking the right questions – so if you have good ideas and imagination then you can be a good scientist!

      It is not really an explosion, but if you add bicarbonate of soda (you’ll find it in your kitchen) or even sweets (like love hearts) to a half empty bottle of coke and shake it up it will explode like a volcano!

    • Photo: Jessica Chu

      Jessica Chu answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Hi narty,

      I don’t think I knew if I was good or not. I find that if you really enjoy doing something and make the effort then that’s good enough 🙂

      I think hydrogen explosions are pretty bad on a big scale but this is just a very small scale demonstration :
      http://www.youtube.com/user/periodicvideos#p/search/22/6rdmpx39PRk

      Professor Poliakoff and his team of scientists have uploaded more youtube videos on other elements in the periodic table!!! – they have good demonstrations!

      check it out:
      http://www.youtube.com/user/periodicvideos

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