Ask a Chemist: Is That Pool Smell Actually Chlorine? (and other questions) cover art

Ask a Chemist: Is That Pool Smell Actually Chlorine? (and other questions)

Ask a Chemist: Is That Pool Smell Actually Chlorine? (and other questions)

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Question and Response #76

You asked… so we answered. What do carbon chains have to do with Greek words? How do MRIs make “3D pixels”? Is that pool smell actually chlorine? And wait… are birds blue, or is that just a trick of the light? This episode is a rapid-fire round of your questions, and the chemistry behind them.

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Timestamps

0:00 – Intro + “Ask a Chemist” episode setup
1:20 – Listener shoutout + why we love your questions
2:20 – Why a 20-carbon chain is called “icosane” (Greek roots)
6:00 – MRI “3D pixels” explained (and the Minecraft analogy)
9:20 – What is a particle accelerator actually doing?
12:40 – Can we really taste CO₂? (and Pop Rocks teaser)
13:40 – Why birds look blue (without blue pigment)
16:20 – “Isn’t this physics?” + bird stories from listeners
21:30 – Pool chemistry questions: chlorine, salt, and safety
22:20 – What that “pool smell” actually is
23:30 – Why pool chemistry feels different from “real” chemistry
27:00 – Stabilized chlorine + lingering pool mysteries
28:50 – Wrap-up + how to send in your questions

Support this podcast on Patreon
Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

References from the Episode:

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Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
Justine
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Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
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J0HNTR0Y
Jeannette Napoleon
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Erica Bee
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Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Venus Rebholz
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Kristina Gotfredsen
Timothy Parker
Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife


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