Texium
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Notice: Subforum reorganization
The other active forum staff and I have agrreed on a plan to restructure some of the subfora. The main change will be a division of the current
Technochemistry subforum, because it is an unconventional and overly broad category. In order to categorize our threads in a manner more in tune with
the chemistry zeitgeist, that subforum will become the Electrochemistry subforum, since that is the most prevalent topic, while non-electrochemistry
threads will move to one of three new subfora:
Process Engineering
Materials and Metallurgy
Analytical Chemistry
These new sections (especially Analytical Chemistry) will also be able to absorb some threads from the bloated Chemistry In General subforum.
I will be creating the new subfora shortly after making this post, and will begin the process of reorganizing threads. It will take a substantial
amount of time, of course, but my goal is to at least have the 1366 threads in Technochemistry appropriately divided up by the end of next weekend!
My hope is that having more topics may revive and boost some interest in subjects that have been buried in Technochemistry or Chemistry in General. We
have also floated the idea of adding subfora for other STEM subjects outside of chemistry, since it is "Sciencemadness," not "Chemistrymadness," after
all (as woelen put it in our staff discussion). I think it would be great to hear opinions from the community regarding the possibility of adding
non-chemistry STEM subjects to the forum. Is that something you would like to see, and if so, what subjects do you think would draw people in and
generate the most productive and interesting discussions?
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Texium
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Also worth noting: for somewhat silly reasons it is easier for me to move threads from oldest to newest. Thus, the new subfora are starting out being
populated by some 20 year-old threads, some of which may seem irrelevant if not outright bizarre. 
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Bedlasky
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I am glad for making analytic chemistry subforum. I've been thinking about making some posts about this topic, but I was worry that it would be lost
in chemistry in general.
As for other science topics - I think that physics, astronomy and geology/paleontology subforum would be great.
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khlor
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About time the subject of sciencemadness and not chemistry madness being brought up.
As for other topics, I am in all favor of it.
As sugestions here is my draft:
Electrical and Electronics
- Power supplies(people doing electrolysis do love asking for these)
- High Voltage(birkelan reactors, ozone and fun like tesla coils)
- Amplifiers(there are many who like it)
- Electronics in general , IDK, a staple subforum
Physics
- Nothing comes to mind but someone can expand or at least make something up
- robotics?
I never done much outside of electronics and chemistry . But I think some of it may be appreciated by others.
"NOOOOOO!!! The mixture is all WROOOOOOONG!"
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Texium
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Quote: Originally posted by khlor  | Electrical and Electronics
- Power supplies(people doing electrolysis do love asking for these)
- High Voltage(birkelan reactors, ozone and fun like tesla coils)
- Amplifiers(there are many who like it)
- Electronics in general , IDK, a staple subforum |
As I was going through Technochemistry (I'm almost halfway
through), I noticed that there were quite a few electronics related threads that were not directly related to chemistry. For now I've been moving
those into Miscellaneous, but seeing the significant number of those has led me to agree that an Electronics subforum is warranted. I don't think
there necessarily need to be four different ones though. There are already suitable homes for some of the topics that overlap with chemistry. Some
power supply related threads fit quite well in Electrochemistry, if they are focused on how to use the power supply for electrolysis. Birkeland-Eyde
reactors and ozone generators fit well in Process Engineering since they are purpose-built machines that are meant to downscale industrial processes
for home lab use. But there were a number that I came across with no direct relation to chemistry: homemade transistors or lasers, for instance.
Electrical repair of appliances such as hotplates/stirrers was another topic that comes up rather frequently, and could more properly fit in a general
electronics subforum.
So, my suggestion would be a general "Electronics" subforum, with a description of "Construction and repair of circuits and electronic devices." It
would be right at home in the Engineering and Equipment category.
Edit: A “Physics and Physical Chemistry” subforum might also be warranted, but I’m not sure if there are enough threads/interest in that area.
[Edited on 11-20-2023 by Texium]
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Texium
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Actually, I think I have a good solution: rename the anemic Computational Models and Techniques subforum to Physics and Physical Chemistry, since most
threads in that subforum appear to be physics-oriented. The minority that aren’t would likely find a home in Beginnings (basic stoichiometry
calculators, etc) or Miscellaneous. Perhaps it could even be promoted to Fundamentals!
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EF2000
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With all those changes, the category Forum Matters is in should be "Non-science", not "Non-chemistry"
Wroom wroom
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khlor
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| Quote: Originally posted by Texium | | Actually, I think I have a good solution: rename the anemic Computational Models and Techniques subforum to Physics and Physical Chemistry, since most
threads in that subforum appear to be physics-oriented. The minority that aren’t would likely find a home in Beginnings (basic stoichiometry
calculators, etc) or Miscellaneous. Perhaps it could even be promoted to Fundamentals! |
I for one approve of the electronics subforum idea, as for the computational models, IDK, even though it might be anemic(as so described ) I still
believe that there is merit in having a dedicated place to software/dedicated programming resources, peehaps a relabling would be more beneficial.
Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.
[Edited on 20-11-2023 by khlor]
"NOOOOOO!!! The mixture is all WROOOOOOONG!"
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clearly_not_atara
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Just be careful not to make subforums too small. It can starve the threads. But overall I like the direction you're going.
[Edited on 04-20-1969 by clearly_not_atara]
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Texium
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That’s why I proposed broadening Computational Models and Techniques. It still has threads from 7 years ago on the first page.
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charley1957
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Hey I’d love to see an Electronics subforum especially. I’m also all for a geology subforum.
You can’t claim you drank all day if you didn’t start early in the morning.
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chornedsnorkack
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Non-radioactive isotopes
The name of this forum is specifically "Radio"isotopes. But which forums deal with stable isotopes - measurement of stable isotopes, separation of
stable isotopes, synonymous (isotope replacement) reactions or their avoidance?
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woelen
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We could rename this section, to include all kinds of things you mentioned. My suggestion: "Nuclides and radioisotopes". This is broad and covers
nuclides in general. Isotopes fit under the umbrella of nuclides. Mentioning the term radioisotopes explicitly makes clear that an important aspect of
nuclide physics is radioactivity.
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woelen
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We could create one other section, called "Non-chemistry amateur sciences", holding the following subforums:
- Physics
- Geology
- Astronomy
- Mathematics
[Edited on 21-11-23 by woelen]
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j_sum1
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You are still talking about isotopes and their radiation properties.
Radiochemistry is the most appropriate forum.
Edit.
Beaten by woelen.
[Edited on 21-11-2023 by j_sum1]
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Fulmen
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Sounds sensible.
We're not banging rocks together here. We know how to put a man back together.
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Texium
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| Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1 | You are still talking about isotopes and their radiation properties.
Radiochemistry is the most appropriate forum. |
Not necessarily. There are plenty of stable isotopes that are
used, mainly for their NMR activity (or lack thereof) or for physical chemistry experiments. Deuterium, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 are common
examples.
It’s not radiochemistry, but given the low prevalence of such chemistry amongst amateurs, it’s not worth renaming this subforum or creating a new
one. If you’re trying to make a deuterium or 13C labeled organic compound for some reason, it could go in organic chemistry just fine. Discussions
of kinetic isotope effect studies, etc, could fit in the proposed Physics and Physical Chemistry section if that comes to fruition. Otherwise,
miscellaneous.
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Texium
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Threads Merged
21-11-2023 at 05:59 |
Texium
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Making some good progress. I have moved over 600 threads from the former Technochemistry into other subfora, mostly into the new ones (though by this
point there’s probably at least 100 that were moved to Beginnings, Miscellaneous, and a handful of others, occasionally honoring a move request from
a decade ago that was never fulfilled, lol). I only have about 350 left to go, so I should be on track to finish it this weekend as I planned!
As I was going through these, I became firmly convinced of the need for a general Electronics subforum, so I created one. I’m also becoming more
certain that a physics/physical chemistry one is warranted. The question with that is whether to combine it with Computational Models and Techniques
(my preferred strategy) or to let that remain and create a new subforum.
The real challenge is going to be picking through Miscellaneous and Chemistry in General. They are much larger than Technochemistry was and contain a
broader variety of subjects, so reviewing their threads will be a much bigger job. I think I am up to it, but it would probably be a project that I
have to do a bit at a time over a few years. Splitting up Technochemistry at least gives the new subfora a solid foundation to grow on.
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Texium
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It’s done! Technochemistry is no more. The electrochemistry subforum is now truly only electrochemistry. There are still likely many threads
remaining in the more general subfora that would fit better in one of the new ones though (especially for analytical). Sorting those out will be a
longer, slower process.
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Sir_Gawain
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Good work! This forum is due an overhaul.
“Alchemy is trying to turn things yellow; chemistry is trying to avoid things turning yellow.” -Tom deP.
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B(a)P
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Thanks for all of your efforts on this Texium!
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