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Chemistry was tweeted in real-time on the 7th November. It seems from feedback I’ve received that it was enjoyed. Obviously there is some room for improvement, so please, if you were disappointed don’t hesitate to tell me what you’d like to see in the next RealTimeChem event. As promised I’ve written this post in order to showcase my observations of the day and my favourite-ist tweets and pictures from the day.
It’s been a reeeeeeeally difficult task, as there was a LOT of excellent #RealTimeChem, so if you don’t see yourself mentioned here, I apologise and still think you were wonderful. All tweets and your time were appreciated.
In keeping with the theme of the event here are 24 of my favourite tweets:
#1 – We’ve all named our lab equipment at some point in time. One of my rotary evaporators was nicknamed “Dingleberry”. Don’t ask why.
I love my Buchi... Her name is Betty #RealTimeChem
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Lee Walsh (@_Leeeroy) November 07, 2012
#2 – Renee discovers that the instructions are ALWAYS on the optimistic side.
"tools required: none" I call BS! I need my tubing cutter! #RealTimeChem twitpic.com/baya14
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Renée Webster (@reneewebs) November 07, 2012
#3 – Beware the wrath of the angry chemist. We all know that Chemistry is not always relaxing!
Your shit on my desk because yours is covered in crap is shortly followed by your shit on the floor... #realtimechem http://t.co/MGY1msKY
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Tara D (@skanicmentality) November 07, 2012
#4 – This assuming anecdote is very true to real life chemistry. Who hasn’t walked into the chemical laboratory and smelt something nasty?
Something smells like Dog poo. Not sure if I've stepped in something or it's the synthesis guys at the other end of the lab. #RealTimeChem
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Matthew Allinson (@mattallinson) November 07, 2012
#5 – A bit of a selfish selection, but I really liked the notion that #RealTimeChem had invaded the lecture room at the University of East Anglia.
#realtimechem has made it into the #CHEMF11 lecture room come on @CHEMF11SJL yfrog.com/es4vhimyj
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Simon Lancaster (@S_J_Lancaster) November 07, 2012
#6 – There was a lot of coffee used as fuel on the day. The nectar of the Gods….what was I saying again?
Kicking off #RealTimeChem day with a coffee! http://t.co/67ZM10Xm
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Jen D (@JenDtweeting) November 07, 2012
#7 – Byron shows some everyday chemistry wisdom.
I wonder if triethylamine will fix it? Et3N fixes everything. #RealTimeChem
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What's in a name? (@_byronmiller) November 07, 2012
#8 – One of Vittorio’s amusing tweets.
My EtOAc is yellow, and on the bottle it’s written “EtOAc - HOPE”… I love the thrill of the unknown! #RealTimeChem
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Vittorio Saggiomo (@V_Saggiomo) November 07, 2012
#9 – I love this photo of the old fashioned black boards at Oxford by the Conway Group.
Aromatic and heterocyclic chemistry lecture #RealTimeChem http://t.co/7GOED5Sw
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Stuart Conway (@conway_group) November 07, 2012
#10 – The University of Reading really got into the day tweeting a whole host of chemistry with actual times included! I think this is my favourite, I just love the expression of Jacopo analysing his data and the amount of foil required for one piece of equipment!
12:34 Jacopo is analysing data from his UHV surface science experiments #RealTimeChem http://t.co/v3HfxBJR
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UniRdg Chemistry (@UniRdg_Chem) November 07, 2012
#11 – Neesa expresses that feeling we all get when we finally know we’ve got that precious product!
Yayyy, one of my NMRs shows that I have some useful product, for a change! Time to throw that shiz down a column to purify it. #RealTimeChem
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Nessa Carson (@SuperScienceGrl) November 07, 2012
#12 – I agree with Daniel, that sometimes you have to know when to call it a day.
Green triphenylphosphine oxide apparently...maybe time to call it a day! #realtimechem http://t.co/aQ4sevfT
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Daniel Mould (@DPMould) November 07, 2012
#13 – A beautiful funnel flower of chemistry.
@RSC_Comms RT #RealTimeChem http://t.co/KTr6XYwC
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Katie Reynolds (@krennie92) November 07, 2012
#14 – Ian took RealTimeChem literally and sideways!
#RealTimeChem - A reaction start to finish in 38 seconds! Now to work it up... yfrog.us/mdot6xdlztnxiv…
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Ian Strutt (@ianstrutt) November 07, 2012
#15 – Rhiannon’s group took equipment naming to the next level. I think the pictures on each machine is a nice touch and as you’d expect, I love the film references 😉
Now to check on my instruments. Meet Egon, Doc Brown, and GPC-3PO. #RealTimeChem http://t.co/tVvLyR3M
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Rhiannon (@arachne182) November 07, 2012
#16 – Jen gave me a good chuckle with this tweet. Chemists know how to party. Even in the lab!
Party in my hood! #realtimechem http://t.co/f6BUa8xI
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Jen Bon (@jbondoesscience) November 07, 2012
#17 – Mudz produced quite a few interesting tweets, but his mystery green sludge (living up to his name!) has to be the highlight simply for been the most wonderful looking mess I’ve ever seen.
Dear Mr Supervisor my reaction hasn't worked. 😦 #RealTimeChem #labfail http://t.co/HF7CkxMC
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Mudz TheRock Panchal (@Mudz21) November 07, 2012
#18 – I’m actually not sure what Nathan was trying to achieve here, but as a photochemist I do love a good light show *puts on the protective sunglasses*
Light them up! #RealTimeChem http://t.co/njRa3KQK
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Nathan Jensen (@nathanjensen85) November 07, 2012
#19 – Paulette tweeted all the way from Mexico and even braved an Earthquake to RealTimeChem. She wins my award for prettiest work bench.
My workplace just before #realtimechem day. It's so pretty !!! 7 hours to start here in Mex http://t.co/xlawpyI4
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Paulette Vincent-Ruz (@pinkyprincess) November 07, 2012
#20 – I just really like this picture, more coffee and a nice selection of your standard everyday chemistry. A snap shot of a day.
Reaction started, compound dry, Schlenk line full, coffee poured. Ready to start my evening. #RealTimeChem instagr.am/p/Rvr9pEqZgX/
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(@skizzdc) November 07, 2012
#21 – Andre sums up your typical failed reaction. You can’t count the number of times ‘gooey black rubbish’ has been isolated. Aldrich should sell it, just to save us the reaction time!
DIscovered how to turn cheap starting materials into complex life changing structures. Hang on, I mean 'gooey black rubbish'. #RealTimeChem
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Dr Andre Cobb (@andrecobb) November 07, 2012
#22 – I love the mystery of this photo. Some atmospheric RealTimeChem.
Reading our old timey vernier scale for optical rotations #RealTimeChem http://t.co/fWT4foR2
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auntkate (@klherver) November 07, 2012
#23 – Andrew looks like he performed chemistry using “Smurf” as a reagent.
Polyfluorene: I will show you the colors of my people #RealTimeChem lockerz.com/s/259650687
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Andrew Davis (@weemadandrew) November 07, 2012
#24 – Finally, the most pretty separation I’ve see in a long time, from Jess the chemist
@RSC_Comms this is better http://t.co/WTADQjS9
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Dr Jess (@JessTheChemist) November 07, 2012
Phew! That was quite the challenge choosing 24 tweets from the day, there were others that could and maybe should have made the cut, I just had to be a little ruthless. I could have put in a representative column for instance….but I think those of us in the lab see enough of those already! This pretty much brings RealTimeChem day to its close for me, it shall live on and I’ll keep everyone updated on that. In the meantime as I said in previous posts, feel free to use the hash tag and keep on showing off your chemistry on twitter. Normal service (i.e. irreverent geek humour and chemistry) will resume on the blog next week!
So…. Keep Calm and Do Chemistry!
-The Lab Coat Cowboy-
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