THE <:HEMISTRY OF EVERYDAY
THINGS
There is an old saying to the effectthata foolish person wonders onlyabout
strange and unusual things butthata wise person wondersaboutthe common,
everyday things. Do you ever stop to thinkaboutthethousandsofthings we
use every daythatare made possiblethroughchemistry? We have gotten so
used to most of these things, like rayon and nylon, soap and plastics,thatwe
take them for granted and never stop to thinkaboutwhat they are made of or
how they are made. In the following section you will see for yourself how some
ofthe things you use every day are made.
HOWTOMAKERAYONTHREAD
Gather these materials: Concentrated ammonium hydroxide (NH40H);
coppersulfate crystals(CuS0 4 ) ;dilute sulfuric acid (H2S0 4 ) ;a glass stirring
rod;a tablespoon;a glass funnel; an eyedropper;filterpaper;and 5 pint jars.
Follow this procedure:Fill oneofthejars!full of water. Add copper sulfate
crystals. Stir the solution and keep adding copper sulfate until no more will
dissolve.Pourthe liquid off intoanotherjar. With the eyedropper,add con-
centratedammonium hydroxide, drop by drop, to the copper sulfate solution
until a light blue color appears. Hold the glass rod in your other hand and keep