The chemical breakdown & Chemistry in its element

Chemistry World

English Chemistry Natural Sciences Science

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Episodes 633

Avg. Duration 6m

Activity Highly Active

Since Apr 2008

Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule

Weekly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

77%

Hosting

rss.libsyn.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The chemical breakdown is your biweekly source of the latest chemistry news, featuring discussions by our Chemistry World writers on the most exciting announcements and innovations in the field. Plus the full archive of Chemistry in its element – the audio tour of the periodic table and beyond. From Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

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Recent Episodes

Click chemistry marks 25 years & covalent bonding in the actinides | The chemical breakdown podcast

Jun 10, 2026 27m

This week, we look back at how far click chemistry has come in the last 25 years and discuss the strange bonding behaviour of some of the largest elements on the periodic table with Mason Wakley and…

Quantum computing & a mysterious contaminant in microplastics research | The chemical breakdown podcast

May 28, 2026 34m

This week, we discuss the latest milestone in quantum computational modelling and reveal the common laboratory item causing strange readings in microplastics research with Frankie Macpherson and…

Battery week 2026: The EV cathode race & battery-recycling | The chemical breakdown podcast

May 13, 2026 24m

This week, we are celebrating Chemistry World's Battery Week with a special battery-themed episode! We discuss the race between cathode materials for electric vehicles and a new photocatalyst capable…

Vanadium-based medicines & sustainable labs | The chemical breakdown podcast

Apr 29, 2026 24m

This week, we discuss vanadium's potential in the medical field and the changes you can make in our lab to reduce your carbon footprint, with Jennifer Newton and Emma Pewsey. Many are familiar with…

Inert materials & the Mary Celeste | The chemical breakdown podcast

Apr 16, 2026 31m

This week, we discuss how to ensure experimental instruments are truly inert and chemistry's answer to the fate of the Mary Celeste, with Phillip Broadwith and Mason Wakley. A new study has…

The two states of water & science sleuths | The chemical breakdown podcast

Apr 07, 2026 30m

This week, we discuss the peculiarities of water's behaviour and how science sleuths are fighting disinformation with Philip Robinson and Emma Pewsey. A recent study from researchers at Stockholm…

Atomic radii & synthetic food dyes | The chemical breakdown podcast

Mar 11, 2026 28m

This week, we discuss team discuss the boundaries of the atom and breakdown the US's plan to eliminate synthetic food dyes with Jennifer Newton and Phillip Broadwith. The atomic radius of an atom is…

AAAS annual meeting & plasma chemistry | The chemical breakdown podcast

Feb 26, 2026 30m

This week, we discuss reflections from this year's American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting and the latest advances in plasma chemistry with Rebecca Trager and Mason…

AlphaGenome & the RNA world hypothesis | The chemical breakdown podcast

Feb 11, 2026 26m

Welcome to our latest podcast series, The chemical breakdown. Each week, we dive deeper into two stories we've covered here at Chemistry World, providing insight into the facts, why you should care,…

Batteries: The bedrock of the sustainable future

Jun 01, 2021 21m

In this special podcast produced in partnership with Waters Corporation, find out how understanding the chemistry and materials that go into batteries marks the first step towards making them safer…

Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element

Dec 21, 2020 7m

How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? We explore the history of cinnamon and the compound that gives it its distinctive taste and aroma

Azidoazide azide: Chemistry in its element

Dec 11, 2020 5m

A compound so explosively unstable that nobody has been able to measure how sensitive it is without it, well, exploding.

Ochre: Chemistry in its element

Dec 04, 2020 7m

How one of mankind's oldest pigments helped shepherds secure their sheep and inspired one of the most popular songs of the twentieth century

Maltodextrin: Chemistry in its element

Nov 27, 2020 7m

A sweet compound that provides ample energy for extreme endurance events – find out how maltodextrin helped Anna Ploszajski swim the English channel

Ionic liquids: Chemistry in its element

Nov 20, 2020 11m

Liquid salts, ionic melts, fused salts, or ionic glasses – call them what you like, these much-hyped solvents show great promise. Katrina Krämer speaks to chemical engineer Jason Bara about ionic…

Chlorhexidine: Chemistry in its element

Nov 13, 2020 8m

An antimicrobial compound that kills bacteria and viruses quickly – found in some of the most colourful antiseptic solutions

Asparagusic acid: Chemistry in its element

Nov 05, 2020 7m

Does asparagus give you foul-smelling urine? Helen Arney investigates asparagusic acid, and the lavatorial genetic lottery that controls whether or not you can smell its distinctive aroma

Glycyrrhizic acid: Chemistry in its element

Oct 30, 2020 6m

A sweet treat with a deadly trick for Halloween – glycyrrhizic acid, or glycyrrhizin, is found in black liquorice and sweeter than sucrose, but can cause heart problems and even prove fatal if…

Propofol: Chemistry in its element

Oct 23, 2020 6m

Also known as 'milk of amnesia', propofol helps to prevent perception of pain in surgery – just don't forget its dangerous side

Sofosbuvir: Chemistry in its element

Oct 16, 2020 6m

Hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir made waves when first launched – quicker to work and with fewer side effects than existing drugs, but it came with a hefty price tag

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The chemical breakdown & Chemistry in its element have?

The chemical breakdown & Chemistry in its element has published 633 episodes since April 2008, covering topics in Chemistry, Natural Sciences.

Is The chemical breakdown & Chemistry in its element still active?

The chemical breakdown & Chemistry in its element is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 6m.

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