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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Problem of the Week Archive => Topic started by: Borek on December 24, 2012, 06:52:44 AM

Title: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Borek on December 24, 2012, 06:52:44 AM
There is a problem this week, as I have no time to prepare nor find a good question. It happened I am working on a rather unusual compound at the moment. I started with carbon and hydrogen and combined them with a rather random assemble of atoms that hopefully won't change the final properties of the molecule when it will be ready. Treating with iodine and sulfur was pretty straightforward, as they are both easy to find in the elemental form. Final step was the most difficult one, as CAS 12006-10-9 doesn't come cheap – but then spending lots of money at the end of December is hardly surprising. All in all it is supposed to be a merry experiment, and I wish you all to be able to repeat it as well.
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Wastrel on December 24, 2012, 01:23:59 PM
That is just terrible.
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Schrödinger on December 25, 2012, 10:20:29 AM
Zreel Puevfgznf gb lbh gbb Oberx! ;) :D btw, good one :)
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Wastrel on December 26, 2012, 08:34:41 AM
naq n unccl arj lrne gb nyy!
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: stewie griffin on December 26, 2012, 08:44:50 AM
Ok what am I missing here  ???
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Schrödinger on December 26, 2012, 08:58:07 AM
The very first thing you missed here is Borek's opening sentence "There is a problem this week" ;)
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: curiouscat on December 27, 2012, 02:48:20 AM
Where does Thallium Arsenide fit in?  :-\
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: discodermolide on December 27, 2012, 04:07:07 AM
Sorry there is a problem!
I am not an inorganic nor analytical chemist otherwise I would try and help.
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Schrödinger on December 27, 2012, 04:10:29 AM
curiouscat : Thulium arsenide, not thallium : HUGE difference.   -----TmAs : This moiety ( ;) ) seem familiar?

discodermolide : It doesn't really matter if you're any of those :P
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: discodermolide on December 27, 2012, 04:31:45 AM
I know that!
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Schrödinger on December 27, 2012, 04:53:58 AM
Oops :P
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: curiouscat on December 27, 2012, 07:25:37 AM
Ok, I'm slow. All I get is that it's something to do with Christmas..
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Schrödinger on December 27, 2012, 07:41:08 AM
Yeah, now that the cat's out of the bag, plus, its a couple of days past Christmas, I hope Borek wont object to my revealing it : The encoded message is "Merry Christmas" merry from the line that says its a merry expirement. CH from carbon and hydrogen, R from random, IS from iodine and sulphur TmAs from Thulium Arsenide. Merry CHRISTmAs
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: stewie griffin on December 27, 2012, 02:05:39 PM
OK I figured it was something like that, but I couldn't put it together like Schrodinger did. Thanks!
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Sophia7X on December 27, 2012, 06:49:17 PM
Yeah, now that the cat's out of the bag

I immediately thought "cat's out of the box with radioactive source and HCN" because of your username.
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Schrödinger on December 27, 2012, 10:35:23 PM
^Ha! I'll try to use that next time onwards! Thank you :P
Title: Re: Problem of the week - 24/12/2012
Post by: Borek on December 31, 2012, 07:32:43 AM
The encoded message is "Merry Christmas" merry from the line that says its a merry expirement. CH from carbon and hydrogen, R from random, IS from iodine and sulphur TmAs from Thulium Arsenide. Merry CHRISTmAs

I am not sure I ever thought about is as an "encoded message", but yes - CHRISTmAs and merry were the key words :)