essential₂fun
Riding your bike? Surfing the waves? Chemistry helps get you going. It’s part of every shopping spree, it’s at the movies—it’s even in those fruity drinks with the little umbrellas. Low-tech or high-tech, everything from crayons to computer games gets an element of fun from the business of chemistry.

Did You Know

progress

The chemical industry provides regular progress reports on greenhouse gas emissions reduction to government agencies, the media and the general public.

Featured Articles

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Nature Calls

When campers head into the great outdoors, they take the benefits of chemistry with them. From water-repellent tents to insulated sleeping bags to insect repellant, the products of chemistry can be found all around the campsite. » learn more

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They Shoot, They Score! The Chemistry of Hockey

Chemical-based products have gone a long way in modernizing the sport of ice hockey, leading to renovated rinks, improved sticks and pucks, and—most importantly—better protected players. » learn more

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Taking it to the Hoop: The Chemistry of Basketball

Whether it’s the plastic water bottles that help replenish players between substitutions or the foam “wiggle sticks” fans use to distract an opposing free throw shooter, chemistry can be found all around the basketball court. Here are some examples of the most prominent ways chemistry makes basketball possible. » learn more

materials

The Art of Colored Jewelry and Diamonds

In recent years various types of colored jewelry and alloys have become popular, including mokume-gane and colored diamonds. Find out how these unique forms of jewelry are created. » learn more

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Play ball! Although wood and leather once dominated the baseball diamond, recent innovations in plastics have revolutionized sports safety gear and changed the way baseball and softball are played today. » learn more

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