3
$\begingroup$

You love your site and we love your site, but there is a whole world of people out there who might not even know it exists. When they do find it, their first impression will either scare them away or keep them around. Given this, let's take a hard look at the questions and answers here and make sure newcomers see the site at its best!

Below you'll find ten questions randomly selected from this site. What do you think about each of them and their answers? Are they the best they can be or can they be improved? Would they look interesting and inviting to an outsider or are they a little embarrassing?

Upvote the corresponding post here on meta when we're awesome. Downvote when our content just isn't quite up to par.

Oh, and do comment to let everyone know your thoughts and take part in this conversation. :)

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ How many Convention badges do you have now?? ;) $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:12
  • $\begingroup$ @jonsca: We all know that this Community team thing is just a front for a mass rep-and-badge laundering scheme :P $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 19, 2012 at 9:28
  • $\begingroup$ @jonsca A few..... :) $\endgroup$
    – Adam Lear StaffMod
    Commented Aug 28, 2012 at 21:08

10 Answers 10

Reset to default
6
$\begingroup$

Differences between phenols and alcohols

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ (+1) Question is rather simple/innocent, but it gets surprisingly interesting as one digs down. I'll admit I didn't like the question too much when I first saw it, but I no longer hold that opinion. Additionally, it may interest a wide range of people, despite its simplicity. Answer is mine, so I won't comment on it :P $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:01
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Questions like this one (and the answer given) are good questions to make entry-level students feel welcome. This is a common misunderstanding for the undergraduate student, especially given that many textbooks do not explicitly label the phenol group a separate functional group. Apparently you cannot list more than 20 functional groups in your table of functional groups ><. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 13:39
5
$\begingroup$

Flammability (NFPA) - how is it defined?

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ (+1) I rather like the way the question is written, and it points out a confusion that is present in quite a few people--the difference between "combustible" and "supporter of combustion" ("fuel"/"oxidant"). The answer is pretty comprehensive as well. $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:06
  • $\begingroup$ This is a well-written question about a confusing topic. I won't comment on my answer, but the comments on my answer are insightful and provide other helpful tidbits. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 13:41
  • $\begingroup$ As much as I was a bit hesitant of "safety" questions in the beginning, I think that by-and-large the site has handled them quite well. I think this and others are a step towards the site being a source of information in that area. $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 16:56
5
$\begingroup$

67 failures at extracting acetaminophen from Excedrin(R)

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ +1 While it's a bit localised [OK, many questions here can be considered localised--chemistry is that way--but usually there is an underlying concept], this question highlights the issues with experimental chemistry in a nice way. To a newcomer, it would probably be an interesting read. $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:34
  • $\begingroup$ (+1) Same comments. A bit localized, but I found it a fascinating read in the process of experimental chemistry. And it is a real question. $\endgroup$
    – Colin McFaul
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 2:06
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ +1 For me, this question (and answers) is a good example of asking experimental questions: background is given, procedure followed is clearly indicated, and the answers give valid hints at working around the issue… $\endgroup$
    – F'x Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 10:11
  • $\begingroup$ The question is mine, so I won't comment on it. The answers provided interesting work-arounds to the problem I faced. I haven't accepted an answer yet because neither of them will work in my teaching lab. I have since discovered a likely answer, and will answer my own question if it works. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 13:36
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I agree with the others. The only thing I have a second thought about is the title, which of course can be edited. I think it could be a bit more descriptive, offering a unifying description of the failures rather than a statistic. $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 16:54
4
$\begingroup$

Can I test for lead with household chemicals?

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Answers both offered the OP exactly what he/she wanted, and explained the background of the tests nicely. Answers didn't just recommend "get a testing kit" (though this might have also been a viable option). $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:03
  • $\begingroup$ (+1) [Forgot to comment, apparently] Experimental chemistry with a twist, "household chemicals only". The answers are quite extensive, offering lots of various tests and observations. I found the entire set of posts rather interesting :) $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 19, 2012 at 5:09
3
$\begingroup$

Calcium carbonate toxicity

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ (+1) Question can really be answered by a simple MSDS lookup, so we have what looks like an lmgtfy post. The answer analyses it nicely, though. $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:13
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I agree with @Manishearth. However, just reading the MSDS does not mean that toxicity is obvious. The answer does a nice job of handling that problem. As an extreme case, look up the toxicity information in the MSDS for sucrose (table sugar), which often include the phrase "slightly hazardous by ingestion". $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 13:54
3
$\begingroup$

Where can I obtain tables of P-V-T/compression factor data?

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ (0) As I mentioned there, it borders on a make-a-list question (and is just asking for links), but it's a rather useful question to have around, IMO. The answer isn't just link-only, which makes me happy :) $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:30
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ +1 it asks for a liste of resources, but the list is (both to my knowledge and that of others) limited to one place. A one-item list isn't so bad :) $\endgroup$
    – F'x Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 10:14
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Asked in good faith and in a professional context, it wasn't a "Where do I find X constant that I need for my homework problem?" type question. $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:09
2
$\begingroup$

How does brewing time and brewing temperature affect the flavonoid concentration of green tea?

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
4
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ (+0) Not something I'd expect on chem.SE. The question doesn't really show any research effort, it's rather to-the-point. The answer is a result of some good digging, though. I personally would like it if there was some explanation of the mechanism in the answer as well (but it's fine the way it is) $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:17
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ +1 for the answer… $\endgroup$
    – F'x Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 10:15
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ (+0) The answer if good, but neither the question nor the answer contain much chemistry. An answer that included the structures of representative flavonoids, their water solubilities, their decomposition temperatures, etc., would have been better. Simply being redirected to two papers, which I may not have access to. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 15:29
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Needs a lot more background on the part of the OP, however, I still think it "boils down to" (har har) an extraction problem. The answer was great. $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:11
2
$\begingroup$

How to name this cyclic compound with an O

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ (0) Not exactly Googleable, but bordering on it. If one knows that the common name is THF, one can easily get the IUPAC name. Still, interesting to newcomers, the naming of heterocyclic compounds isn't too well known, IMO. $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:39
  • $\begingroup$ (+1) for the question, (0) for the answer. The nomenclature of heterocycles is confusing and overlooked by introductory textbooks. I think the answer could be better, especially if it did not include a possible copyright violation. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 15:29
  • $\begingroup$ @BenNorris The answer does cite the source, so I think it would probably constitute fair use, but I'm not a legal expert $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:04
  • $\begingroup$ I think there could be an infinite number of these questions, but I would agree with Manish. It does bring up the point of having some sort of integrated chemistry drawing program with the site, which would give a basis for comparison with existing structures. $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:06
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @jonsca It probably is fair use, especially given the "educational" mission of this site. If we had an incorporated drawing tool, then we would less lifting of structures from around the web and more drawing them ourselves. As suggestion, perhaps an extension that could render a SMILES or INChI string back to the appropriate structure would be easier to implement than a full structure drawing applet $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:47
  • $\begingroup$ In the spirit of Ben Norris' suggestion: wolframalpha.com/input/?i=SMILES+C1CCCO1 $\endgroup$
    – CHM
    Commented Aug 26, 2012 at 21:51
0
$\begingroup$

Temperature dependence in absorption spectroscopy

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ (+0) Sounds slightly open-ended, but it's not too open-ended. Pretty interesting question as well. Answers are sufficient but not extensive. $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:10
  • $\begingroup$ (+1) On a second reading, I agree that it sounds slightly open-ended. I liked it enough to provide an answer, and it was on my (physics) qualifying exam. My answer could be more thorough. $\endgroup$
    – Colin McFaul
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 2:03
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Too open ended, even with the "narrowing" question at the end. $\endgroup$
    – jonsca Mod
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 17:07
-5
$\begingroup$

Empirical vs Molecular Formulas

What do you think about this question and its answers? Vote and comment to let everyone know.

$\endgroup$
2
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ (-1) I feel it's against our homework policy (both the question and the answer). The question shows no efforts (and is rather naïve--but that's not a bad quality). The answer fully answers the question (the homework policy wants hints and concepts, full answers are prohibited). Besides, it doesn't really explain the concept behind emperical/molecular formulae. [Note:CHM edited his answer, it's better now] $\endgroup$
    – ManishEarth Mod
    Commented Aug 15, 2012 at 18:26
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ (-1) Even though the poster made it clear this was for self-study, the question is still likely reproduced exactly from a textbook or similar source. A better question would have been about the difference between empirical and molecular formulas and how you find them. CHM's answer is not bad, but a better one would have used examples that were not in the original question. $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    Commented Aug 16, 2012 at 15:21

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .