Does it allow for a detour to McBurney’s Point?
It’s mentioned in an appendix to the story.
Ethyl acetate? Pear drops.
j
No. I remember that esters are made by combining an alcohol and an organic acid. And that both the alcohol and the acid were based on methane, i.e. CH4. The alcohol is methanol, but I don’t remember how you construct the name for an acid made from methane. (It was over 55 years ago, after all)
That would be formic acid. Doesn’t sound right to me. Chemistry degree, 45 years ago.
j
The systematic name of formic acid is “methaoic acid”, which shows its relationship to methane. The name “formic” is derived from formica, the Latin word for “ant”, because ants, and many other insects, secrete it for defense.
45 years ago it was formic acid. Just sayin. 
j
Calling it “ant-acid” was just too confusing.
Mystery author Agatha Christie was an avid surfer in the 1920’s. She is believed to be the first British woman to ride a surfboard standing up.
Still is!
“Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid”
I suspect our teacher used “methanoic” because that was part of our lesson on organic chemistry
Nearby Yardley, Pennsylvania host America’s only museum dedicated to the Three Stooges.
I had an unfortunate experience getting arrested In a small provincial town in South Africa. As I was being charged (released next day) I noticed a free condom vending machine, so having no shame pulled a bunch out. All banana flavoured.
Apparently this is the least popular flavour in the US and therefore the most likely to be donated to third world countries.
I was brave enough to taste-test one (not recommended) but have not been brave enough to actually use one. I feel pulling one out may kill the mood, the relationship, and possibly my ability to ever date again.
“There was enough formic acid in his body to kill a dozen men.”
– Them!
I first learned about the connection between formic acid and ants from Theodore Sturgeon’s novel The Synthetic Man, in which a character is compelled to eat ants because he has a formic acid deficiency. (Or something like that; it’s been quite a few decades since I read it.)
That’*s exactly what it’s called in German, “Ameisensäure”.
What is ‘antacid’ in German?
I had to look that up. It’s Antazidum.
I recall that if your dorm room’s previous occupant had been a chem major, there was a good chance they’d hidden a time-release stink bomb somewhere.
Today I learned a couple of interesting things about the water speed record:
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Since 1930 there have been 13 attempts at breaking the record. Of those, 7 died while doing it. Hence most people who have tried to break the record have died in the process.
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It currently stands at 317.59 mph. It was set by Ken Warby in 1978. Using a wood boat he built in his backyard.
I am guessing this is the most dangerous record attempt for any sport?
Well, now I know that kitchen countertop material was not designed with ants in mind. It was originally designed to replace mica in electric insulation, and was therefore “for mica” or Formica.