Ask a Chemist: Why do carrots cause hiccups? (and other questions)

Chemistry For Your Life

Ask a Chemist #64

In this bonus edition of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam tackle intriguing questions from listeners. They delve into why some people hiccup when eating carrots, the fascinating uses of poinsettias in food packaging, the role of benzene as a carcinogen, and the controversies surrounding hydrogen-rich water bottles. Additionally, they explain how catalysts work and respond to various chemistry-related inquiries from their engaged audience.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:10 Why Do People Hiccup When They Eat Carrots?
06:18 The Dangers of Benzene in Dry Shampoo
08:07 Understanding Catalysts in Chemical Reactions
12:04 Debunking the Hydrogen Rich Water Cup
20:26 Supercritical Water and Viewer Comments
24:59 Poinsettias and pH Indicators
26:42 Conclusion and Listener Acknowledgements
References from this episode

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3504071/
2. https://synapse.koreamed.org/upload/synapsedata/pdfdata/0081jnm/jnm-18-123.pdf

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