Asplosion is finally here! This web video series is focused on experiments we perform, and exactly how and why they work as they do. This episode rotates around the classic Diet Pepsi and Menthos experiment – when the Menthos is dropped in the Diet Pepsi, an explosive chemical reaction occurs.

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Why?

The eruption of the Pepsi is actually brought about by the culmination of various factors. One reason is the contents of the Pepsi and Mentos. Mentos contains many different ingredient, particulary including gelatin and gum arabic ingredents, which make the treat as chewy as it is. Diet Pepsi contains, in addition to carbon dioxide and aspartame, caffeine and C₇H₅KO₂. When these reacts, they enhance the CO₂‘s bubbling effect to a much higher level. In addition, a concept known as nucleation contributes to the jet. Nucleation is the contained reaction of a thermodynamic reaction, which results in gaseous bubbles and crystals. Mentos has a coating with many tiny dents. These cause the nucleation, or the formation of CO₂ bubbles rapidly and enormously. The two factors combined result in the Old Faithful we see in the video.

by Rameez Virji

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Shin Splints

Shin Splints are a really painful sensation in the shins. They can be caused by running, jumping or something similar, and are properly referred to as medial tibial syndrome.

The pain from shin splints can be felt in the front of the outer leg, just below the knee. It usually starts when a person has a sudden increase in physical exertion, particularly in the knees.

There are two conditions that are attributed to shin splints.

i. Overused muscle

Usually, shin splints are just overused muscle. The best thing you can do is rest and avoid walking and jumping, along with other strenuous exercises as much as possible.

ii. Chronic compartment syndrome (CCS)

This is way more serious than overused muscle, mainly because it can lead to the loss of function in the lower leg. If the pain only worsens, and you feel a tingling sensation, go see a doctor immediately. The tingling indicates a compressed nerve. Again, you should rest, and the doctor will provide you with special exercises.

Baseball Finger

Baseball finger is also known as mallet finger. It is a finger injury characterized by the loss of function in the tip of the finger, including not being able to extend the finger. In most cases, the tendon of the finger is ripped.

Usually, baseball finger is caused by a sudden blow to the finger. The term ‘baseball finger’ comes from the fact that a major cause of baseball finger is a blow to the finger from a fastball hit in baseball. The patient’s finger will be swollen and will hurt a lot.

If someone does have baseball finger, the finger should be elevated above the heart, and ice should be applied immediately. The patient should be given medical attention and should also be X-rayed as soon as possible. If the injury is minor, a splint can be applied for a few weeks to heal it. If it is fractured, then a surgery is usually performed to fix the bone.

References:

Wikipedia – “Shin Splints” – http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Splints

Multiple Authors, Multiple Dates

Wikipedia – “Baseball Finger” – http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Finger

Multiple Authors, Multiple Dates

eCure Me – “Baseball Finger”- http://ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/baseball_finger.asp

Dr. Lee Wong, 2007

MedicineNet – “Shin Splints” – http://www.medicinenet.com/shin_splints/article.htm

William C. Shiel Jr. (MD, FACP, FACR) and Dennis Lee (MD), 2008

BY RAMEEZ VIRJI

I make my debut as a musical artist…. and it fails. However, the lyrics are informative.

FIRST SONG: STOICHIOMETRY (Melomanic Preartist)

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SECOND SONG: HYDROGEN RAP (DJVJ feat. DM Unlimited)

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Lyrics:

(Yo, DJVJ… DM Unlimited – take 783, yeah…)*
Discovered in 1766 by T. Van Hohenheim,
Hydrogen da ‘Hizzle’* came before our time.
Named in 1783 by Antoine LaVoisi-rizzle*
And that be why me rap all dis dope shizzle-dizzle*!
It’s usually got a single isotope,
You can see that under an electron microscope, yeah.
[CHORUS]
Hydrogen(x4)
Now this element if two of them find some oxy,
You get water (water, water) – and that be foxy!
With an atomic mass of a little more than one g,
-13.6 is its ground state energy.
Making up around 75% of everything,
It’s quite abundant
Oh, no, I feel I might be being redundant,
Even I know I mustn’t
Play with H it just doesn’t
Cut it, yeah.
And that be why I rap,
about this hydrogen yap, yeah….
[chorus]
Hydrogen is very combustible,
That’s dangerous, too bad it ain’t adjustable,
This element is much light-lighter than air,
It can float above it, yeah, without a care.
Too bad it can only be found in a compound form,
which with Oxygen falls on you in a wet rain storm.
I makes up most of the sun,
But, a son-of-a-gun,
Don’t set flame to it or…
You’ll have to run!
[chorus]
Hydrogen don;t exist as a gas on Earth,
unless it’s seperated into other compounds…
otherwise, it’s dirth!
This stuff is produced quite a lot in Texas,
one day it may even be used to produce a brand-new Lexus, yeah.
See this Hydrogen Rap, it’s the Hydro-Hydrogen Rap (x2)
This is the Hydrogen Rap.
We’re nearly done, I’ve gotta cap…
[chorus]x2
*Anything I starred was an inside joke with the class