This week, Reactions looks at the reasons why pee was once the “number one” material in chemistry. You might not believe it, but there was a time when urine, yes urine, was prized by chemists. Pee played a part in some of the most significant discoveries in science, and it helped shape the modern world.

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Music by
mdeman – Cadillac Candy
Pure Natural – Touch Me

Host:
Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D.

Writers:
Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D.
Kirk Zamieroski

Producer:
Kirk Zamieroski

Executive Producer:
Adam Dylewski

Silver Mirror On Glass – http://cldfacility.rutgers.edu/content/formation-silver-mirror-glass-surface

On Pee and Alchemy – http://www.scienceminusdetails.com/2011/09/why-pee-is-cool-entry-4-peepee-portal.html

Elemental Discovery Timeline – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_chemical_element_discoveries

The 13th Element – https://books.google.com/books?id=D8IMOQAACAAJ&hl=en

Read “Quicksilver” by Neal Stephenson for a fictional account of alchemists mucking about with phosphorus and other elements: http://www.amazon.com/Quicksilver-Baroque-Cycle-No-1/dp/0060833165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444154376&sr=8-1&keywords=quicksilver+book