Chemistry in its element

Brian Clegg paints a picture of a compound found in ancient cave paintings and top-of-the-range electronics: Manganese dioxide

Michael Freemantle examines the explosive history and chemistry of mercury fulminate

Generally, things get bigger as they get hotter. Neil Withers examines one of the exceptions – zirconium tungstate

There's more to toluene than TNT, as Brian Clegg reveals

From an apron aflame to a popular propellant, Michael Freemantle tracks the history of guncotton

Brian Clegg introduces an essential nutrient, and the first to hold the name 'vitamin': Thiamine or vitamin B

A story which starts knee-deep in sewage and ends with the spread of drug resistant infections like MRSA

Wouldn't it be great to have a molecule named after you? But perhaps not this week's compound, the chemical weapon lewisite

Hayley Birch discovers the compound that opened up a wing of the periodic table for reactions: Xenon hexafluoroplatinate

Raychelle Burks finds out how Potbelly's patrons became poisoning patients, in the mystery of the sodium azide-laced iced tea

In this week's podcast, Matt Gunther reveals the toxic history of gelsemine

In this week's podcast, Raychelle Burks tells us of the cool but warming effects of methyl salicylate, better known as oil of wintergreen.

It's at the heart of the first chemical equation, and makes Hayley Birch think of quiche. This week's compound is antimony sulfide

Why do the Blue Ridged Mountains inspire so many songs? Maybe it's because of the Isoprene that gives them their blue hue...

Emilie Steinmark tells us about gluten and gluten intolerance

Simon Cotton explains the explosive history and the dangers to health of the weight-loss drug, 2,4-dinitrophenol

Brian Clegg introduces an exotic chemical dynasty: the Vanadium oxides

Simon Cotton on the compound that turns a shrinking violet into a hero: Adrenaline

Brian Clegg tells us about a silicone gel, which can sometimes be a bit silly

Raychelle Burks introduces a red dye with a prickly history.

If life hands you lemons, make lemonade – or you could make citric acid, a very useful commodity chemical according to Andrew Turley

Brian Clegg on sodium sulfate, known as 'the miraculous salt' because of its strong laxative effects.

Tempted by a tipple of home-brewed moonshine? Andrew Turley examines the risks associated with drinking methanol.

Brian Clegg investigates a compound that calms inflamed joints and excites the stressed brain: Cortisol

Ben Valsler examines the chemicals at the heart of one of the latest cosmetic & food additive scare stories: Parabens

Matt Gunther investigates a clear, colourless gas responsible for thousands of deaths in the Great War: Phosgene

It rendered walls of pyramids and helps remove unwanted hair - Brian Clegg introduces a compound with many names - Calcium hydroxide

From a glamorous necklace to cutting edge body armour - Helen Scales investigates the properties of nacre

Brian Clegg smooths out the wrinkles over the darling of the cosmetic industry, hyaluronic acid

How do mussels stick tight and weather the constant ocean waves? Helen Scales discovers mussel adhesive proteins

Brian Clegg introduces a compound steeped in faded Victorian glamour – acetylene

Simon Cotton examines a compound banned in warfare but still used by police to disperse crowds: CS gas

It's the strongest known biological material and one of the earliest pigments - Helen Scales discovers goethite

Brian Clegg discusses the vitamin found in both breakfast cereal and meteorites: Niacin

Start your engines! Simon Cotton looks into one of the few chemical names known well to the public: Octane

Sensible approach to dental rot or sinister communist plot? Brian Clegg examines the much-maligned fluorides

Simon Cotton introduces the first of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants: Prozac

Once thought to extract the truth and now used to enact the ultimate punishment, this week's compound is sodium thiopental

It may have been largely superceded in the clinic but Phil Robinson discovers there is no rest yet for barbituric acid

RNA may be less famous than it's more stable cousin, but is central to cellular function

Breaking Bad may have exaggerated its body-dissolving effects, but Katrina Krämer finds the truth about hydrofluoric acid is just as gruesome

From lemon-fresh detergent to home made silly putty, Jenna Bilbrey expounds the virtues of borax

Brian Clegg introduces the 'ogres' that make up transparent electronics

Nina Notman describes the dance of olefin metathesis, and how the tempo is set by Grubbs' catalysts

Brian Clegg explains how titanium nitride could protect artificial joints and pimp out your ride

Matt Gunther introduces the alloy that links armour-piercing bullets and ball point pens: Tungsten carbide

Brian Clegg introduces a weedkiller whose name has entered public consciousness – Paraquat

In this seasonal podcast, we look at the compounds found in frankincense and myrrh

Nina Notman introduces isoniazid - an antibiotic key to treating tuberculosis

Could this be the sweetener that causes the most online panic?