Steve Cohen
@drstevecohen.bsky.social
Chemical history🧪 (podcast “The History of Chemistry”; book “O Mg! How Chemistry Came to Be”)/Author/Jewish music/Yiddish (raised 2 Yiddish-speaking children)/Calligraphy/Genealogy/Etc. Attempts to argue that science isn’t real get you blocked.
This month 103 years ago, Thomas Lowry published "The uniqueness of hydrogen". J Soc Chem Ind, 1923, vol 42 (3): 43–47. He proposed (independently of Brønsted) that acids donate protons, and bases accept protons. (I'd like to find the original article to link to, but cannot.) #ChemSky 🧪
January 16, 2026 at 4:21 PM
This month 103 years ago, Thomas Lowry published "The uniqueness of hydrogen". J Soc Chem Ind, 1923, vol 42 (3): 43–47. He proposed (independently of Brønsted) that acids donate protons, and bases accept protons. (I'd like to find the original article to link to, but cannot.) #ChemSky 🧪
126 years ago this month, Rutherford published his "A Radio-active Substance emitted from Thorium Compounds," Phil. Mag., Jan. 1900, ser. 5, xlix, pp. 1-14. He detected what was later known to be radium, and noted its half-life. Read the paper here: #ChemSky🧪 www.chemteam.info/Chem-History...
ChemTeam: Rutherford's Discovery of Half-Life
www.chemteam.info
January 8, 2026 at 10:58 PM
126 years ago this month, Rutherford published his "A Radio-active Substance emitted from Thorium Compounds," Phil. Mag., Jan. 1900, ser. 5, xlix, pp. 1-14. He detected what was later known to be radium, and noted its half-life. Read the paper here: #ChemSky🧪 www.chemteam.info/Chem-History...
Three-phase 240 V electrical current
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you.
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride
Introduce yourself with what almost killed you.
Hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide.
January 5, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Three-phase 240 V electrical current
On the last day of 1808, Gay-Lussac's "Memoir on the Combination of Gaseous Substances with Each Other," Mém. de la Soc. d'Arcueil 2, 207 appeared. It advanced Dalton's idea of atoms, and rejected Berthollet's variable proportions. #ChemSky 🧪 Read it here: web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/gaylu...
Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac
web.lemoyne.edu
December 31, 2025 at 4:42 PM
On the last day of 1808, Gay-Lussac's "Memoir on the Combination of Gaseous Substances with Each Other," Mém. de la Soc. d'Arcueil 2, 207 appeared. It advanced Dalton's idea of atoms, and rejected Berthollet's variable proportions. #ChemSky 🧪 Read it here: web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/gaylu...
Reposted by Steve Cohen
You’ve just opened a Chemistry themed pub. What are you calling it?
The Flask and Column
#ChemSky #ChemChat
The Flask and Column
#ChemSky #ChemChat
You’ve just opened a Star Trek themed restaurant. What are you calling it?
Bake It So
Bake It So
Oh hey, that works too. You’ve just opened a Star Trek themed restaurant. What are you calling it?
Make It So
Make It So
December 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
We had our next-door neighbors over for high tea. Naturally we brought out the Royal Worcester service.
December 26, 2025 at 1:08 AM
We had our next-door neighbors over for high tea. Naturally we brought out the Royal Worcester service.
212 years ago this month, Jöns Jacob Berzelius started a series of essays on the nature of chemical proportions, promoting Dalton's atomic theory, in Ann. Phil. vols 2 & 3. #ChemSky 🧪 See some of it here: web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/berza...
Jöns Jacob Berzelius
web.lemoyne.edu
December 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
212 years ago this month, Jöns Jacob Berzelius started a series of essays on the nature of chemical proportions, promoting Dalton's atomic theory, in Ann. Phil. vols 2 & 3. #ChemSky 🧪 See some of it here: web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/berza...
א פֿריילעכן חנוכּה! In these dark times, for Jews, for the USA, and for the world, may a growing blight show that the underdog can prevail over evil regimes. #Hanukkah
December 15, 2025 at 12:31 AM
א פֿריילעכן חנוכּה! In these dark times, for Jews, for the USA, and for the world, may a growing blight show that the underdog can prevail over evil regimes. #Hanukkah
For the teen interested their Jewish roots, gift my “What’s in a Name? A Young Person’s Genealogy Workbook,” the *only* such contemporary guide to Jewish genealogy for the younger set! (We hear that adult newbies like it too.) #booksky www.betterworldbooks.com/product/deta...
What's in a Name book by Stephen M. Cohen, Caryn Alter: 9781962054003
Buy a copy of What's in a Name book by Stephen M. Cohen, Caryn Alter. Knowing our past is a gift we give to future generations, and this workbook will serve as a springboard for teens starting their J...
www.betterworldbooks.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:54 PM
For the teen interested their Jewish roots, gift my “What’s in a Name? A Young Person’s Genealogy Workbook,” the *only* such contemporary guide to Jewish genealogy for the younger set! (We hear that adult newbies like it too.) #booksky www.betterworldbooks.com/product/deta...
For the science nerd, here is my “O Mg! How Chemistry Came to Be,” the 1st history of chemistry in 60 years for laypeople—in graphic format! #booksky #chemsky 🧪 www.booksamillion.com/p/O-Mg-How-C...
O Mg! How Chemistry Came to Be: Stephen M. Cohen: 9789811262234
O Mg! How Chemistry Came to Be: Stephen M. Cohen: 9789811262234: Paperback: Chemistry - General
www.booksamillion.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
For the science nerd, here is my “O Mg! How Chemistry Came to Be,” the 1st history of chemistry in 60 years for laypeople—in graphic format! #booksky #chemsky 🧪 www.booksamillion.com/p/O-Mg-How-C...
For the traveler in your life, gift my “America’s Scientific Treasures,” 2nd edition. Science and technology sites in the USA for adults. #booksky 🧪 global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
For the traveler in your life, gift my “America’s Scientific Treasures,” 2nd edition. Science and technology sites in the USA for adults. #booksky 🧪 global.oup.com/academic/pro...
155 years old this month, Lothar Meyer published a response to Mendeleev's periodic table, as an update, in Ann. Chem. Suppl., 1870, 7, 354-364. A "periodic table" was in the air, though Mendeleev published 1st. #ChemSky 🧪 See here: www.rod.beavon.org.uk/lotharme.htm
lotharmeyer
www.rod.beavon.org.uk
December 10, 2025 at 4:01 AM
155 years old this month, Lothar Meyer published a response to Mendeleev's periodic table, as an update, in Ann. Chem. Suppl., 1870, 7, 354-364. A "periodic table" was in the air, though Mendeleev published 1st. #ChemSky 🧪 See here: www.rod.beavon.org.uk/lotharme.htm
Davisson and Germer published their work "Diffraction of Electrons by a Crystal of Nickel" 98 years ago this month in Phys. Rev. 30(6), Dec 1927, p 705, proof that electrons had wavelike attributes (and started LEED in surface chemistry). #ChemSky 🧪 Read here at journals.aps.org/pr/pdf/10.11...
journals.aps.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Davisson and Germer published their work "Diffraction of Electrons by a Crystal of Nickel" 98 years ago this month in Phys. Rev. 30(6), Dec 1927, p 705, proof that electrons had wavelike attributes (and started LEED in surface chemistry). #ChemSky 🧪 Read here at journals.aps.org/pr/pdf/10.11...
Reposted by Steve Cohen
(S)-cargot (R)-cargot
November 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
(S)-cargot (R)-cargot
Don’t forget that you can still listen to my podcast, “The History of Chemistry”, on your favorite podcast app. #ChemSky 🧪 thehistoryofchemistry.buzzsprout.com
The History of Chemistry
Chemistry is everywhere, and involves everything. But how did chemistry get to be what it is? I'm Steve Cohen, a chemist and writer, bringing you The History of Chemistry. This podcast explores the de...
thehistoryofchemistry.buzzsprout.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Don’t forget that you can still listen to my podcast, “The History of Chemistry”, on your favorite podcast app. #ChemSky 🧪 thehistoryofchemistry.buzzsprout.com
125 years ago this month, Moses Gomberg announced the discovery of the first chemical radical, triphenylmethyl, in JACS, 22(11) 757-771 (Nov 1900). He ended the paper with "I wish to reserve the field for myself." #ChemSky 🧪 Read it here: ia800805.us.archive.org/view_archive...
ia800805.us.archive.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:40 PM
125 years ago this month, Moses Gomberg announced the discovery of the first chemical radical, triphenylmethyl, in JACS, 22(11) 757-771 (Nov 1900). He ended the paper with "I wish to reserve the field for myself." #ChemSky 🧪 Read it here: ia800805.us.archive.org/view_archive...
November 9 was the 138th anniversary of Svante Arrhenius’s “On the Dissociation of Substances Dissolved in Water,” Z. Phys. Chem., I, 637 (1887), describing how electrolytes break up into ions in aqueous solution. #ChemSky 🧪 Read the short paper here: www.chemteam.info/Chem-History...
ChemTeam: Arrhenius dissociation article
www.chemteam.info
November 11, 2025 at 2:53 AM
November 9 was the 138th anniversary of Svante Arrhenius’s “On the Dissociation of Substances Dissolved in Water,” Z. Phys. Chem., I, 637 (1887), describing how electrolytes break up into ions in aqueous solution. #ChemSky 🧪 Read the short paper here: www.chemteam.info/Chem-History...
Found this quote last
Night in Jack McDevitt’s sci-fi novel “Infinity Beach” (1997). Posting it for, um, no reason.
Night in Jack McDevitt’s sci-fi novel “Infinity Beach” (1997). Posting it for, um, no reason.
November 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Found this quote last
Night in Jack McDevitt’s sci-fi novel “Infinity Beach” (1997). Posting it for, um, no reason.
Night in Jack McDevitt’s sci-fi novel “Infinity Beach” (1997). Posting it for, um, no reason.
60 years ago this month, Woodward and Hoffmann published their famous letter to the Editor of JACS on “Orbital Symmetries and Orientational Effects in a Sigmatropic Reaction.” #ChemSky 🧪 roaldhoffmann.com/sites/defaul...
roaldhoffmann.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
60 years ago this month, Woodward and Hoffmann published their famous letter to the Editor of JACS on “Orbital Symmetries and Orientational Effects in a Sigmatropic Reaction.” #ChemSky 🧪 roaldhoffmann.com/sites/defaul...
131 years ago this month, George Stoney proposed the "atom of electricity," or "electron," linking it to the production of electromagnetic waves. The paper appeared in Phil. Mag. in Oct 1894. #ChemSky 🧪 (Note his use of "chemical atom".) Read it here: todayinsci.com/S/Stoney_Geo...
George Johnston Stoney - Of the Electron, or Atom of Electricity
todayinsci.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:43 PM
131 years ago this month, George Stoney proposed the "atom of electricity," or "electron," linking it to the production of electromagnetic waves. The paper appeared in Phil. Mag. in Oct 1894. #ChemSky 🧪 (Note his use of "chemical atom".) Read it here: todayinsci.com/S/Stoney_Geo...
151 years ago this month, J Willard Gibbs published part I of his famous thermodynamic treatment of chemistry in the obscure “Trans Conn Acad Arts Sci”. #ChemSky 🧪Read it here: library.si.edu/digital-libr...
On the equilibrium of heterogeneous substances : first [-second] part
library.si.edu
October 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
151 years ago this month, J Willard Gibbs published part I of his famous thermodynamic treatment of chemistry in the obscure “Trans Conn Acad Arts Sci”. #ChemSky 🧪Read it here: library.si.edu/digital-libr...
101 years ago this month, Edmund Stoner published "The Distribution of Electrons among Atomic Levels" in Phil. Mag., the first decent description of the Bohr model atom with quantum numbers--soon leading to the postulation of electron spin. #ChemSky 🧪 Read it here: www.chemteam.info/Chem-History...
Stoner on Electron Filling
www.chemteam.info
October 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
101 years ago this month, Edmund Stoner published "The Distribution of Electrons among Atomic Levels" in Phil. Mag., the first decent description of the Bohr model atom with quantum numbers--soon leading to the postulation of electron spin. #ChemSky 🧪 Read it here: www.chemteam.info/Chem-History...
My latest calligraphic work, the Birkat HaZan: gouache on watercolor paper, scheduled for installation in my dining room. #art #calligraphy #Jewish
September 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
My latest calligraphic work, the Birkat HaZan: gouache on watercolor paper, scheduled for installation in my dining room. #art #calligraphy #Jewish
On this date in 1861, Alexander Butlerov gave a talk “Einiges über die chemische Structur der Körper,” printed in Zeit. Chem. Phys., perhaps the first time “chemical structure” was used. #ChemSky 🧪 Read a translation here: web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/butle...
Butlerov
web.lemoyne.edu
September 19, 2025 at 9:14 PM
On this date in 1861, Alexander Butlerov gave a talk “Einiges über die chemische Structur der Körper,” printed in Zeit. Chem. Phys., perhaps the first time “chemical structure” was used. #ChemSky 🧪 Read a translation here: web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/butle...
Given I know a little about science communication, I am happy to share this commentary by my grad-school housemate. pubs.aip.org/physicstoday...
Commentary: A defense of science communication
It’s easy to believe that the US scientific community is in crisis. The daily news is full of stories about cuts in funding and oppressive visa restrictions. Or
pubs.aip.org
September 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Given I know a little about science communication, I am happy to share this commentary by my grad-school housemate. pubs.aip.org/physicstoday...