On May 31, chemical industry professionals in Russia celebrate their professional holiday.
Chemists' Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of May in Russia. This complex and responsible profession combines deep fundamental knowledge in chemistry, an understanding of physico-chemical processes and experimental precision. Chemists' expertise ensures the uninterrupted operation of industrial giants, the creation of new materials, medicines and technologies, as well as the development of key elements of modern infrastructure — from water treatment to the production of fuels and polymers.
Interesting facts:
- Coins and keys do not have an intrinsic smell. The familiar "metallic" odor arises from a chemical reaction between human skin and the metal surface: sweat and skin oils interact with iron or copper ions, forming volatile organic compounds.
- The wall of a typical soap bubble has a thickness of about 0,00001 cm (0,1 micrometer). It is one of the thinnest substances that the human eye can see without special instruments.
- In 1869 Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, while working on the textbook "Principles of Chemistry", arranged the 63 elements known at that time in order of increasing atomic mass and similarity of chemical properties. He left gaps in the table and accurately predicted the existence and properties of gallium, scandium and germanium, which were discovered later.
- In 1870 Anna Fyodorovna Volkova became the first woman in the world to receive a chemistry degree and publish an independent scientific study. She synthesized para-tricresyl phosphate — a substance that became the first plasticizer for plastics. Anna Volkova was a member of the Russian Chemical Society.
- In 1839 the American inventor Charles Goodyear sought for many years to make rubber resistant to temperature fluctuations. During one experiment a drop of a rubber-and-sulfur mixture accidentally fell onto a hot stove. Instead of melting, the drop transformed into an elastic and durable material — this is how the vulcanization process was discovered. Goodyear spent several years refining it and patented the technology in 1844. The process was named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
We sincerely congratulate employees of the chemical and petrochemical industries on their professional holiday! We wish you robust health, happiness, prosperity, and decent and safe working conditions.