Top 10 Most Extreme Substances Known on Earth

Here is a nice top 10 list of awesome Earthly substances, ranging form super-hot to the most darkest and the most magnetic to the super-fluid. So without any further adieu

10. The Darkest Substance Known to Man

What do you get when you stack carbon nanotubes on their ends and sandwich them together? A material that absorbs 99.9% of the light that touches it. The microscopic surface of the material is rough and uneven, which breaks up the light and makes it a poor reflector. Then add to that carbon nanotubes act as superconductors in certain arrangements, which makes them excellent light absorbers, and you have a perfect storm of black. Scientists are really excited about the potential applications of the substance; since virtually no light is “wasted”, it would be used to improve optical tools like telescopes, and even be used to make nearly 100% efficient solar collectors.

Four ways to make fire without matches only using chemistry!

Have you ever been stuck outside on a camping trip or elsewhere without matches when you need them? Well here are four science tips for starting a fire using only the knowledge of chemistry. To achieve the combustive reaction you should be knowledgeable in the handling and use of certain chemicals, now aren't you glad you didn't sleep during your chemistry lectures!

All jokes aside though, enjoy the cool science presentation from the people behind NurdRage. Also check out the detailed description to each reaction after the break.

via: YouTube

Amazing combustion of Mercury Thiocyanide

   Here is another chemistry related video, and this time it is combustion (burning of) Mercury Thiocyanate. This compound was formerly used in pyrotechnics causing an effect known as the "Pharaoh’s serpent" or "Pharaoh’s snake".

   It is a stable solid at room temperature that has the appearance of white powder with chunks; it can also be grey in color, depending on purity. Mercury compounds are extremely toxic and protective equipment should be used whenever working with Mercury Thiocyanate. 

   When the compound is in the presence of a strong enough heat source, a rapid exothermic reaction is started which produces a large mass of coiling serpent-like solid. An inconspicuous flame which is often blue but can also occur in yellow / orange accompanies the combustion. The resulting solid can range from dark graphite grey to light tan in color with the inside generally much darker than the outside.

Watch and be amazed by science!

via: YouTube

Cesium, an awesome element

Cesium is not only a cool looking silvery-gold alkali metal element that is liquid at room temperature, but it is also used in atomic clocks. These clocks measure frequency with an accuracy of 2 nanoseconds per day, or one second in 1.4 million years, which means they would be off by about 2 seconds since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Pretty cool application of an extremely pyrophoric element if you ask me. Check out the video of a volatile reaction between water and Cesium below.

via: PeriodicVideos' YouTube