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Three of my children have birthdays in November, so I've already got a jump on holiday shopping ideas. I have a few different gift lists that I use to jog my memory when I need ideas. Top Science Toys is an all-inclusive collection of fun and educational science toys and gadgets. I also have a list of gifts you can make by applying your command of chemistry. This year I've added a new list to the collection: Chemistry Gift Ideas. These are gifts someone with a love of chemistry would especially enjoy. With the possible exception of a chemical volcano, chemistry gifts are a little harder to find in stores than other gifts. Most of the online retailers offer overnight shipping so even if you wait until the last minute for your holiday shopping, you'll still find the perfect present!

A plasma ball is one of the cool items that made my Top Science Toys list.

A diamond crystal is a form of elemental carbon. USGS

Oxygen 65% of Body Weight Oxygen is present in water and other compounds. Liquid oxygen in an unsilvered dewar flask. Liquid oxygen is blue. Warwick Hillier, Australia National University, Canberra Oxygen is necessary for respiration. You will find this element in the lungs, since about 20% of the air you breathe is oxygen.

99% of the mass of the human body is made up of only six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. Every organic molecule contains carbon. Since 65-90% of each body cell consists of water (by weight), it isn't surprising that oxygen and hydrogen are major components of the body. Here's is a look at the major elements in the body and what these elements do. Carbon Carbon is found in every organic molecule in the body. Photograph of graphite, one of the forms of elemental carbon. U.S. Geological Survey Carbon is ingested in food that is eaten and breathed in as a component of air. It is found in the lungs as a waste product of respiration, carbon dioxide.

The Chemical Basis for Life Carbon is the basis for organic chemistry , as it occurs in all living organisms. Carbon is a nonmetal that can bond with itself and many other chemical elements , forming nearly ten million compounds . Elemental carbon can take the form of one of the hardest substances (diamond) or one of the softest (graphite). Carbon is made in the interiors of stars, though it was not produced in the Big Bang. Carbon compounds have limitless uses. In its elemental form, diamond is a gemstone and used for drilling/cutting; graphite is used in pencils, as a lubricant, and to protect against rust; while charcoal is used to remove toxins, tastes, and odors. The isotope Carbon-14 is used in radiocarbon dating. Carbon has the highest melting/sublimation point of the elements. The melting point of diamond is ~3550°C, with the sublimation point of carbon around 3800°C. Pure carbon exists free in nature and has been known since prehistoric time. The origin of the name 'carbo...

Chemistry of Carbohydrates Carbohydrates or saccharides are the most abundant class of biomolecules. Carbohydrates are used to store energy, though they serve other important functions as well. This is an overview of carbohydrate chemistry, including a look at the types of carbohydrates, their functions, and carbohydrate classification. What Is a Carbohydrate? Carbohydrates are a common class of simple organic compouds. A carbohydrate is an aldehyde or a ketone that has additional hydroxyl groups. The simplest carbohydrates are called monosaccharides, which has the basic structure (C·H2O)n, where n is three or greater. Monosaccharides link together to form oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Two monosaccharides link together to form a disaccharide. Functions of CarbohydratesCarbohydrates serve several biochemical functions: Monosaccharides are a fuel for celular metabolism. Monosaccharides are used in several biosynthesis reactions. Monosaccharides may be converted into space-saving ...