Lemon primarily contains citric acid, which is responsible for its well-known sour taste. This compound represents about 5 to 7% of the lemon's composition—quite significant, really! There...
Rust is simply metal, often iron, that gradually reacts with oxygen in the presence of water. First, iron loses electrons: this is called oxidation. This...
Initially, champagne contains dissolved carbon dioxide under pressure. As soon as the bottle is opened, the pressure drops, allowing this gas to gradually escape from...
Newsprint is generally made from mechanical pulp, primarily derived from softwood fibers such as spruce or pine. Unlike the smooth, high-quality white sheets of premium...
The classic glass that we use every day is mainly composed of silica, a combination of silicon and oxygen. These two elements form a very...
Soap is composed of molecules referred to as surfactants, because they are attracted to both water and fats. Each of these molecules has two parts: a hydrophilic...
Pepper owes its spicy flavor primarily to a molecule called piperine. It belongs to the family of alkaloids, which includes several plant substances responsible for...
When tempering goes wrong, it disrupts the natural crystallization of cocoa butter in chocolate. Normally, cocoa butter forms small, regular, and stable crystals called beta...
When a candle burns, it is not just the wick that fuels the flame, but primarily the melted wax. This wax rises through capillarity in...
Vinegar naturally has antibacterial properties due to its high content of acetic acid, an active ingredient capable of eliminating or inhibiting the growth of microbes. This acid...
