Ask a Chemist: Does metal mess up sourdough? (and other questions)

Ask a Chemist #64

Melissa and Jam delve into intriguing chemistry questions posed by their listeners. They explore whether all salts are salty, the chemistry of gunshot residue and fingerprinting, and the reactions between chemicals and sound waves. Special guest Maison, Melissa's husband, joins to discuss sourdough starter cultures and answer sourdough-related queries. The episode concludes with insightful comments from their Chemmunity members and reassurances about their well-being amid late-night recordings.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:45 First Listener Question: Gunshot Residue and Fingerprinting

02:46 Is All Salt Salty?

15:28 Chemistry and Sound Waves

18:28 Sourdough Questions Begin

21:32 Sourdough Myths: Stainless Steel Debate

23:36 Acidity and Metal Reactions

27:47 Sourdough and Gluten-Free Misconceptions

29:40 Starting a Sourdough Business

31:22 Sourdough Starter Names and Maintenance

33:39 Maison's Sourdough Journey

42:06 Late Night Recording Concerns

44:41 Community Shoutouts and Closing Remarks

References from this episode:

1. https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/full/10.1021/acs.joc.1c00805


2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7919833/

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