2943: Unsolved Chemistry Problems - Revision history

82.132.239.130: Undo revision 409034 by 2001:4450:81E7:1E00:ADD6:A33:300F:1CBB (talk)

2026-03-30T03:40:57Z

Undo revision 409034 by 2001:4450:81E7:1E00:ADD6:A33:300F:1CBB (talk)

2001:4450:81E7:1E00:ADD6:A33:300F:1CBB at 00:42, 30 March 2026

2026-03-30T00:42:27Z

2605:A601:A6AD:D800:F58:CD63:E97A:9897: xkcd.com/859/

2025-08-29T01:10:12Z

xkcd.com/859/

FaviFake: too much in the lead

2025-08-03T11:53:08Z

too much in the lead

Kynde: /* Explanation */ Update relation to other unsolved problems

2025-08-03T09:07:42Z

‎Explanation: Update relation to other unsolved problems

FaviFake: /* Explanation */

2025-07-31T14:48:31Z

‎Explanation

FaviFake: see my talk page, added Category:Unsolved Problems using HotCat

2025-07-30T16:12:45Z

see my talk page, added Category:Unsolved Problems using HotCat

FaviFake: /* Explanation */

2025-07-30T09:30:50Z

‎Explanation

Show changes

CalibansCreations: /* Explanation */

2024-11-21T11:52:07Z

‎Explanation

141.101.105.132 at 07:16, 29 July 2024

2024-07-29T07:16:26Z

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | titletext = I'm an H⁺ denier, in that I refuse to consider loose protons to be real hydrogen, so I personally believe it stands for 'pretend'.
 }}
-{{TOC}}
 ==Explanation==
 This comic is the second comic in the [[:Category:Unsolved Problems|Unsolved Problems series]]. It followed [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]] and preceeded [[3115: Unsolved Physics Problems]]. Every field of research has unsolved problems considered "important" or "significant" that motivate continued research. The scientists at what is apparently the "grand opening" of their new chemistry lab list several real chemistry problems, followed by one also-unsolved-but-less-scientific problem (the p in pH)

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | titletext = I'm an H⁺ denier, in that I refuse to consider loose protons to be real hydrogen, so I personally believe it stands for 'pretend'.
 }}
+{{TOC}}
 ==Explanation==
 This comic is the second comic in the [[:Category:Unsolved Problems|Unsolved Problems series]]. It followed [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]] and preceeded [[3115: Unsolved Physics Problems]]. Every field of research has unsolved problems considered "important" or "significant" that motivate continued research. The scientists at what is apparently the "grand opening" of their new chemistry lab list several real chemistry problems, followed by one also-unsolved-but-less-scientific problem (the p in pH)

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 :* pH is taught in high school science class to essentially measure the concentration of extra loose protons in, say, an aquarium. (Different fish prefer slightly different pH levels/alkalinity.) As mentioned earlier, you can interpret the term "pH" to be referring to the "p" of "H" -- the power/potency of H<sup>+</sup> ions.
-:Note that in reality, lone H+ ions do not exist in water, and instead they glom onto H<sub>2</sub>O molecules to form H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> and H<sub>5</sub>O<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup>/(H<sub>2</sub>O--H--OH<sub>2</sub>)<sup>+</sup> due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding. If you don't know what these chemical symbols mean, don't worry about it.) But as an H<sup>+</sup> denier, Randall doesn't consider loose protons to be hydrogen atoms. He has a purist's view of hydrogen, that it is just "pretending" to be hydrogen as soon as it loses an electron. As a denier, he interprets the term "pH" as referring to the concentration of "pretend Hydrogen".
+:Note that in reality, lone H+ ions do not exist in water, and instead they glom onto H<sub>2</sub>O molecules to form H<sub>3</sub>O<sup>+</sup> and H<sub>5</sub>O<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup>/(H<sub>2</sub>O--H--OH<sub>2</sub>)<sup>+</sup> due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding. (If you don't know what these chemical symbols mean, don't worry about it.) But as an H<sup>+</sup> denier, Randall doesn't consider loose protons to be hydrogen atoms. He has a purist's view of hydrogen, that it is just "pretending" to be hydrogen as soon as it loses an electron. As a denier, he interprets the term "pH" as referring to the concentration of "pretend Hydrogen".
 ==Transcript==

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-This comic is the second comic in the [[:Category:Unsolved Problems|Unsolved Problems series]]. The first [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]], was released three years earlier and the third [[3115: Unsolved Physics Problems]] was released a year after this one. Those two are direct sequels as they follows the exact same format with three similar categories. This comic doesn't follow the exact same format, however the idea (and title format) is the same thus it belongs in the series.
+This comic is the second comic in the [[:Category:Unsolved Problems|Unsolved Problems series]]. It followed [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]] and preceeded [[3115: Unsolved Physics Problems]]. Every field of research has unsolved problems considered "important" or "significant" that motivate continued research. The scientists at what is apparently the "grand opening" of their new chemistry lab list several real chemistry problems, followed by one also-unsolved-but-less-scientific problem (the p in pH)
 ; Arbitrary Enzyme Design: {{w|Enzymes}} are catalytic proteins. Enzyme catalysis is often unique in comparison with other catalysis methods as it is highly specific, or tailored to a specific reaction. As such, enzyme catalysis, besides being the basis of all biochemical processes, is becoming increasingly relevant to industrial synthesis processes. As enzymes can easily be produced synthetically through recombinant gene technology, being able to design an arbitrary enzyme for any reaction would mean that effectively any reaction could be relatively easily catalyzed, revolutionizing the chemical synthesis industry.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-This comic is a sequel to comic [[3115: Unsolved Physics Problems]] and part of the [[:Category:Unsolved Problems|Unsolved Problems series]]. Every field of research has [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|unsolved problems]] considered "important" or "significant" that motivate continued research. The scientists at what is apparently the "grand opening" of their new chemistry lab list several real chemistry problems, followed by one also-unsolved-but-less-scientific problem (the p in pH)
+This comic is the second comic in the [[:Category:Unsolved Problems|Unsolved Problems series]]. The first [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]], was released three years earlier and the third [[3115: Unsolved Physics Problems]] was released a year after this one. Those two are direct sequels as they follows the exact same format with three similar categories. This comic doesn't follow the exact same format, however the idea (and title format) is the same thus it belongs in the series.
 ; Arbitrary Enzyme Design: {{w|Enzymes}} are catalytic proteins. Enzyme catalysis is often unique in comparison with other catalysis methods as it is highly specific, or tailored to a specific reaction. As such, enzyme catalysis, besides being the basis of all biochemical processes, is becoming increasingly relevant to industrial synthesis processes. As enzymes can easily be produced synthetically through recombinant gene technology, being able to design an arbitrary enzyme for any reaction would mean that effectively any reaction could be relatively easily catalyzed, revolutionizing the chemical synthesis industry.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:12, 30 July 2025
Line 46:		Line 46:
	[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]		[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
	[[Category:Chemistry]]		[[Category:Chemistry]]
		+	[[Category:Unsolved Problems]]

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 '''Title Text: Hydrogen Denier'''
-In the title text, Randall claims to be an H<sup>+</sup> denier by refusing to consider loose protons to be hydrogen atoms, and as such, the “p” stands for pretend. Part of the joke is Randall's implication that this is a well-known conspiracy theory that he personally buys into (it isn't). The word "denier" is often used as shorthand for other conspiracy theories, such as a "climate change denier" or a "moon landing denier."
+In the title text, Randall claims to be an H<sup>+</sup> denier by refusing to consider loose protons to be hydrogen atoms, and as such, the “p” stands for pretend. Part of the joke is Randall's implication that this is a well-known conspiracy theory that he personally buys into (it isn't).{{cn}} The word "denier" is often used as shorthand for other conspiracy theories, such as a "climate change denier" or a "moon landing denier."
 Here's a breakdown of this joke:

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:16, 29 July 2024
Line 10:		Line 10:

	==Explanation==		==Explanation==
−	~~{{incomplete\|Created by a caffeinated biochemist - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}~~
−
	Every field of research has [[:Category:Incomplete explanations\|unsolved problems]] considered "important" or "significant" that motivate continued research. The scientists at what is apparently the "grand opening" of their new chemistry lab list several real chemistry problems, followed by one also-unsolved-but-less-scientific problem (the p in pH)		Every field of research has [[:Category:Incomplete explanations\|unsolved problems]] considered "important" or "significant" that motivate continued research. The scientists at what is apparently the "grand opening" of their new chemistry lab list several real chemistry problems, followed by one also-unsolved-but-less-scientific problem (the p in pH)