hi

Yes, I don't want to compromise my views, but arguing does become tedious with time, so it's not something I discuss at great length a lot of the time. There are people who are fairly liberally minded, but only just on that side of the spectrum.

 

What do you study, by the way?

 

Social and political sciences, in which I'm doing a paper on religion and politics....

 

What is your favourite chemical element and why?

And may I take this opportunity to apologise for my first post in your thread being a mention of a perverted lesbian practice...

 

I'd say lithium, but that would be too obvious. Carbon I guess, cos I like organics, and it's all over the place there. No, maybe potassium - it burns lilac, and I only really do chemistry cos of the pretty colours. Chlorine is good cos of it's reactiveness. There are too many, I just can't choose!

 

And I forgive you for lowering the tone of the thread.

 

What's your favourite chemical reaction? And why did you choose to study chemistry (apart from the pretty colours)?

 

I think reactions of primary/secondary alcohols with SOCl2 to form alkyl halides, just because the mechanism is fun to draw out. I live for curly arrows. Chemistry just happened, I don't remember thinking about it too deeply, I think my parents have always wanted me to do science in some form, so I'm vaguely influenced by that, but I wouldn't say they pushed me into anything.

 

First of all I'd like to say I’m in awe of anybody who understands chemical reaction mechanisms, my mantra throughout my chemistry a level was 'why do the curly arrows hate me'.

Do you have a favourite word, and if so what is it?

 

Thank you. I hope I understand the mechanisms anyway, exam on wednesday, argh! I have two favourite words - ovoid and illicit, because they're so much fun to say.

 

Ovoid is a great word! I think mine might be 'spatula'.

Do you have a favourite famous scientist?

 

Spatula is quite fun, and easier to slip into conversation than ovoid. I think Marie Curie is my favourite famous scientist, her entire life is so inspiring, and she did so much for chemistry and physics, I'm in awe.

 

Marie Curie rocks! Erm, if you had a choice between never being able to eat chocolate again, or never being able to wear shoes what would you pick?

 

What made you decide to go vegetarian?

 

I would stop eating chocolate, I love shoes far too much, it's bordering on obsession. It's a close call though. Could I have chocolate ice cream? I'm vegetarian because I'm not comfortable with the idea of eating meat, I don't mind cooking it for other people, and it doesn't bother me that other people eat it, but I came to the conclusion that it wasn't something I wanted to do, and haven't really looked back. Except for a wee while at the start when I craved bacon sandwiches, nothing else smells like bacon being cooked.

 

What's your favourite type of cheese?
(Assuming you still eat cheese)

 

I like camembert. Not sure if I spelt it right, and I'm not sure if this is a good enough reply to revive this thread, but there we are. Camembert it is.