INTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY

Originally Posted by lynw

Ok another one from me.

Water pipes were originally made from Lead with Lead solder. The Roman term for Lead was Plumbum and it is from this we get the term plumber.

The Latin Plumbum was originally derived from the Greek for Lead which was Molubdos. It is from the Greek we get the term for the element Molybdenum which was so named because its compounds were often confused with compounds of Lead.

It's also where we get some of the chemical symbols on the periodic table, e.g. Lead = Pb

Originally Posted by El Saxo

It's also where we get some of the chemical symbols on the periodic table, e.g. Lead = Pb

Indeed it is. The latin for Gold and Silver is Aurum and Argentum hence the derivation of the symbols for the metals being Au and Ag respectively.

They couldnt allocate Ar for silver as that relates to Argon. Argon is itself derived from the Greek Argos meaning inert or idle. Dare someone to point that out next time theyre in a queue in Argos waiting for their goods

Iron goes without saying the Fe relates to the latin name for it - Ferrum.

Mercury is also called hydrargyrum hence its symbol being Hg.

Potassium was also called Kalium hence the K for its symbol. Sodium was called Natrium hence the Na.

Antimony has the symbol Sb from Stibium of which was the ancient name for its sulphide compound.

Also, Bromine derives its name from the Greek Bromos meaning stench.

if you plunge a lit match into a bucket of petrol it won't ignite

Originally Posted by Gnan

if you plunge a lit match into a bucket of petrol it won't ignite

Parafin maybe, but the fumes from petrol WILL ignite, so if you're going to try, let me know so I can look away....

.

Originally Posted by Jelster

Parafin maybe, but the fumes from petrol WILL ignite, so if you're going to try, let me know so I can look away....

.

I read that and wondered whos going to demonstrate this?? Not me for certain. :P

[tinpants]

Originally Posted by Gnan

if you plunge a lit match into a bucket of petrol it won't ignite

Theoretically speaking, yes, you're right. its the fumes that burn not the liquid.


In the same vein, diesel will boil before it ignites.

already done it years ago in an 'unofficial' physics lesson

the lowest complete clearance possible in snooker delivers only 44 points

The word decimation derives from the Roman form of punishment carried out on mutinous troops. It would require every tenth man [hence the deci] to be clubbed to death by the other 9 in the row regardless of his innocence or guilt.

The impact of reducing troops by this method and to this extent resulted in the word decimation meaning what it does today ie to inflict major damage.

Originally Posted by Gnan

the lowest complete clearance possible in snooker delivers only 44 points

Sorry someone just explained the reasoning here to dumb old me. You pot a red, miss a colour. The opponent misses everything.

Then surely its 42 - 15 reds plus 27 for the colours?

Damn I need to go to bed. This insomnias just turning me dumb.