The volcanic chemistry of sulfur - with Andrew Szydlo

Ri favourite and science icon Andrew Szydlo takes you on a tour of the amazing, and sometimes explosive, chemistry of sulfur.
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This talk was recorded at the Royal Institution on 2 December 2023.
Discover more about the history of this curious element, from it’s discovery in 2000BCE to the present day, recreating some long-lost experiments along the way.
Sulfur has played an important role in science and culture over thousands of years, from creating gold, extracting metals and even creating sweets! Andrew explores the amazing 4000 year history of this fascinating element in his usual inimitable style, and of course with a desk filled with exciting chemical demonstrations.
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Andrew Szydlo is a chemist and secondary school teacher at Highgate School, well-loved by pupils and Ri attendees alike. He has given public lectures around the country, been featured on TV shows and has become a popular part of the Ri's KZbin channel in recent years, where his videos have over 16 million views in total.
When Andrew started giving chemistry lessons to friends some 50 years ago, he would bring a pocket-full of chemicals to illustrate the principles of chemistry.
Today, these chemistry lessons have evolved into demonstration lectures which he gives to audiences in a wide variety of locations. During the past 40 years he has given over 500 talks, in addition to teaching chemistry full-time at Highgate School in London. Today he is still based at Highgate School, delivering chemistry lectures to local schools.
The Royal Society of Chemistry included Andrew as one of their 175 Faces of Chemistry.
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[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Andrew is the Chemistry teacher we all wanted to have.

[@cerealport2726]

yes, I was lucky enough to have a couple of passionate and generally good science teachers at school, though as I was already very interested in all things science, maybe I was biased. We did all kinds of experiments and even went on field trips to learn more about geology (which I found fascinating, and I am now a geologist...). There was also a TV show, "the curiosity show", that was meant to engage children with science and engineering. It was hugely popular in Australia in the 80s and 90s, with a lot now being put on KZbin by the original presenters. Regardless, we still need a whole army of Dr Andrew Szydlos!!!

[@ZacCrawforth]

Andrew is one of the treasures of our species.

[@Projacked1]

Don't get me wrong, I think so too. He keeps you on your toes so to speak 😅

[@peteypops]

Teaching to an extremely receptive audience is far removed from teaching on a daily basis…..

[@veganbutcherhackepeter]

​​@@peteypopsHave you ever wondered what makes your audience receptive and engaged? Excitement is contagious.

[@Kobold666]

Dear children, I just watched 107 minutes about sulfur and loved every second of it. Such a great and entertaining display. Thank you very much indeed, Andrew Szydlo.

[@W-H-O]

I love when Andrew Szydlo shows up at the RI, he makes the world a better place.

[@astronomyphilly]

Dear children this guy is a legend when he shows up, just fantastic. If we all had teachers like this chap

[@infectedrainbow]

He's like the Bob Ross of chemistry. Just didn't become known until youtube.

[@ZoonCrypticon]

Andrew Szydlo is one of my most favourite professors. The other one is Prof. Martyn Poliakoff.

[@michaelackerman8455]

I should like to add Peter Wothers, for me he is inspirational. (I'm a 75-year old chemistry student.)

[@andyd8370]

A line from an old metal band, Tourniquet: "Johnny was a chemist's son but Johnny is no more. What Johnny thought was H2O was H2SO4."

[@frogz]

when i see a video with andrew szydlo, i click i am not a simple person but i enjoy what i enjoy and this gem of a man infects everyone with his love of science!

[@dannybell926]

Dr. Szydlo is such a fascinating teacher. He is a treasure to us all.

[@Matthias-no8fu]

I have watched a lot of the RI Andrew Szydlo videos for revision in my chemistry GCSE and they are fantastic. Very helpful. Thanks Andrew.

[@DaydreamNative]

One correction - scattering of light by particles of similar size to the wavelength is Mie scattering, not Rayleigh (which involves particles much smaller than the wavelength). Rayleigh scattering is caused by the gas molecules in the atmosphere, not suspended ice or dust.

[@philiplettley]

The only thing missing was the barking dog, but other than that, another great, interesting and informative lecture by Andrew and the team. Well done

[@beachboardfan9544]

Christmas wish is for TRI to have Szydlo do one of these for every element on the periodic table!

[@ArcNeoMasato]

A video of Mr Szydlo recorded on my birthday? This was a better birthday than I originally knew!

[@TomKappeln]

How i love this man ... Hugs from Poznan Pan Szydlo.

[@edgarcastillo2804]

Merry Christmas with FIRE!!!!! This Sir is amazing to watch everytime

[@jedgould5531]

15:58 Is the actor bellowing (as caustically as the sulfur vapor) because someone was too cheap to give him a mic? Or just showing off, as if he were giving the performance of his life…for the deaf? Royal Institution of London, renowned for lectures by notables and educational laboratory demonstrations for hundreds of years. Why oh why, by this time, isn’t there a permanent ventilation duct leading to the roof? Terminate it on a nearby wall, connect it to a 10m duct extension with a fan (and another fan on the roof). Worth the install if it’s used once a year for the odd mad scientist given to tormenting audiences with noxious fumes. Excellent demo and performance. RI also deserves a modest crew, further multi-cam capabilities, and distribution of these fabulously unique presentations so they can fund these ideas. (the end, dear children).

[@edgarcastillo2804]

@@jedgould5531 hahaha more reasons to Not have smoke detectors in this room

[@RFC3514]

@@jedgould5531 - They tried giving him a mic and he shattered every window in a 4-block radius. He clearly belongs to the Brian Blessed school of acting.

[@realShadowKat]

Today I learned "brimstone" is/was sulfur. Always heard the word but never investigated deeper. Bless Dr Szydlo. I hope the RI passes the comments to the Doctor so he knows how many outside the classroom he reaches, inspires and enjoy his lectures even if we're not compelled.

[@andrestrujado]

Trust me he knows! and the amazing Ri people always sends him all the wonderful comments.

[@Danny-hb1zb]

Such excitement and enthusiasm for a subject he’s obviously studied endlessly. Absolutely brilliant as per by the RI 👏🏻👏🏻

[@jamesdavison6654]

Andrew, I love your lessons!!! You are awesome!!!!

[@nolongerlistless]

Sul'phurous may be the adjective I learnt at school, but sul-fur'ious is a great variant 😂

[@RFC3514]

When the devil gets really mad, he gets sulfurious.

[@joshuasukhdeo2498]

Love Andrew! His showmanship and detailed history and explanations are wonderful❤

[@martincatoniryan1638]

how much passion! the poems were very nice , too. admirably recited! Long live, Szydlo! Long live Sulphur!

[@mogenscamre3762]

Andrew Szydlo allways delivers

[@fiskurtjorn7530]

As always I love Szydlo lectures. However, I'm a bit younger than he is, and with each of his lectures here on KZbin I need a break to get my breath every thirty minutes or so. I admire his energy and enthusiasm.

[@chemsandeep]

Great effort by the great professor and his brilliant team members. It is all awesome. Thanks and regards!

[@phugoid]

Prof. Breathless :) Quite adorable, his lectures. Privileged to have been able to watch and admire him

[@JoshuaKane.]

Love Dr Szydlo, It's been too long! Thank you🙏

[@IndyCotton]

More...more ...more ! I love Andrew - fantastic!!!!!

[@bertharius9518]

I couldn't help but feel I was listening to Professor Farnsworth. If he came out with "good news everyone" I'd have melted.

[@doverghostcore8523]

Most incredible achievement EVER made by the cosmos is taking a bunch of hidrogen atoms and turning them into something that ALWAYS let me speechless and stunned in awe... Andrew Szydlo. Dear Sir Szydlo, you are the most amazing person I had ever the honor to know. Thank you for spreading your endless wisdom.

[@SC-vq4zc]

Enthralling. Bravo sir!

[@cambridgemart2075]

Great to see Andrew back at the RI

[@mmmhorsesteaks]

That Tyndall effect demo was something special, never seen that one before. Very powerful, I thought. Shame it's not used more.

[@Kargoneth]

Excellent presentation!

[@samakovamk]

so nice to see Andrew back , cant get enough of his lectures, Sulphur ? try top of Mount Tiede in Canary islands, three hours breathing in that, cleaned me out for two days after...lol

[@masdevallia1603]

I love this guy. I wish my chemistry teacher was half as good.

[@user-ur1zd8fe8c]

Seeing Dr. Szydlo at RI would be incredible!!

[@davebewshey1549]

I could not imagine how many current and future scientists as well as interest in science this man has inspired

[@otilium7503]

Thank you for this lecture, it's so cool♥️♥️♥️

[@CarlosFernandoCastanedaOlano]

Thank you so much Royal Institution

[@KarldorisLambley]

Electric vehicles typically include a 12-volt lead-acid battery for auxiliary systems and vehicle control functions. This is a separate component from the main high-voltage traction battery, which is typically a lithium-ion battery or another advanced battery chemistry. so pretty much all cars contain a lead-acid cell, irrespective of their power source.

[@phonotical]

Always good to see him again

[@DoucantNevrneir]

I've been listening to his lectures for years via youtube. I'd love to hear him teach in person one day

[@davidbowman9782]

lovely lecture

[@naledikutumela1636]

This is the best Christmas gift! 😊

[@RippleEffectProductions]

You are one of the best i have ever seen till today..

[@sensualchocolate4928]

I think this man is one of the best lectures I've ever seen

[@ThiwankaWimalasuriya]

what a great chemistry lecture. i recommend this this everyone

[@otisbrown420]

Just amazing

[@newklear2k]

I'm a simple being. I see "Andrew Szydlo", and I click.

[@RWBHere]

Andrew is my favourite Stinks. A brilliant teacher and entertainer, who brings Chrmistry to life for children of all ages. Thank-you all. Wishing everyone all the very best for 2024. 🙂👍

[@brave_new_india_science]

❤❤❤❤great lecture 😊

[@nicksta1056]

Would have been a funny an interesting density experiment to have used Sulfur hexafluoride.

[@nathyatta]

I was just binging Andrew’s presentations, and a new one just appeared! Christmas!

[@tristanfowler4488]

Such an amazing and inspiring guy

[@jethromaloku3136]

it's cool to see Mr Szydlo back

[@cambridgemart2075]

I feel very old when professor Parmeggiani mentions how old the reagent bottle was because the label is engraved; I recall almost all of the bottles in our school labs had the labels etched or engraved into the glass.

[@ianmasters4225]

Nice touch to include literature.

[@tilethio]

Isn't it amazing we who live in the modern world are doing the same thing today as alchemists used to do back then? In today's fancy words, we call them "Alloys" and add modern techniques and knowledge to them. In today's modern fancy term, we call them "Chemists or Inventors". What the Alchemists trying to achieve was to invent a procedure to develop a substance that has a higher beneficial importance to humans than its constituent parts. Isn't it what we are doing today in the modern day with the benefit of modern techniques, technologies, and knowledge? I am glad Dr. Andrew brought this forward.

[@WONDERFULREPTILES]

RESPECT SIR ANDREW GOOD VIDEO

[@vmb326]

Good job Andrew - super engaging wish I had smell-o-vision 😂

[@BenTajer89]

you might be happy you couldn't smell it lol...

[@plasmaburndeath]

I am so glad they got Dr. Oz to do the reading. 🙂

[@veganbutcherhackepeter]

What a legend. All teachers everywhere, take note.

[@halfrhovsquared]

Apparently, he invited an Australian backyard chemist to give some demonstrations and he responded, "Ugh! No! Not yellow chemistry!!!" ;)

[@andrestrujado]

Haha😂

[@Feanor_Evanstar]

Amazing demonstrations and beautiful passion! Can we please get them a budget that will cover more than one pair of gloves?

[@IndranilBiswas_]

I dedicated a whole afternoon to Sulfur and I am so happy that I did!

[@user-ur1zd8fe8c]

Legend

[@alan_wood]

Christmas isn't Christmas without the RI.

[@Jessieduke-mf5lz]

I love this guy he's my hero

[@garycard1456]

I am very sure that Andrew Szydlo himself could have performed those simple sulfuric acid demos perfectly well; there was no need to fly someone in from Italy to perform the demos, and for commentary on what was happening at a chemical level! Having a BSc in Chemistry, I could have performed those demos myself- it is hardly cutting-edge and ultra-complex Doctorate-level research chemistry! Watching Andrew brew up a cup-of-tea-with-sugar now and again for his medical condition (referring to one of his previous chemistry lectures) is all part of the charm of Andrew's style! The younger guys are too serious in their demeanor, and are as entertaining as watching paint dry! Andrew's old school style of delivery is what we need more of!

[@martincatoniryan1638]

I agree, Szydlo's delivery is the best! Maybe they are just nervous, need more practice... the poem reader was very good, also, i think...

[@babusastry]

Just super

[@FD-rt3rv]

perfect for Xmas Day

[@CosmicAliveness]

Awesomeness pure Awesomeness

[@passtheparcel2024]

Sulphur in modern chemistry is very useful. It's used in matches, insecticides, and fungicides. But the connotations in ancient an even in today's belief systems cannot be underestimated...

[@pattheplanter]

I can't find any reference online to the first known recorded example of sulvere in Sanskrit, it is one of over forty different names for sulphur like ghandhakah. I found one version as shulvarih or śulbāri. It is common for Europeans to mistake ś for s in Sanskrit transcriptions. Is it from the Rasashastra chemical treatises of the 5th century AD and after? Sanskrit is an ancient language but not all of its words are. The Latin origin of the word, as sulpureus describing a sulphurous river, is known from before 169 BC as it was used in a poem by Ennius. Proto-Indo-European *sulplós has been proposed as the origin, meaning "burn-stuff". As far as we know there was no contact between Rome and India before the first century BC. A Sanskrit compound word (copper-enemy) seems unlikely to be the origin of the Latin word.

[@Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaartin]

I had the same reaction when I heard this part, especially when he prefaces it with the statement that Sanskrit is "the oldest language in the world", which is an absurd statement for several reasons. I generally like it when lecturers talk about the etymology unfortunately it's fairly often poorly done, like in this case.

[@pattheplanter]

@@Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaartin Sanskrit is perhaps the oldest continuously used language in the world due to its preservation as a liturgical language in Hinduism. It is certainly not as old as is claimed by some Hindu enthusiasts. 3,000 to 3,500 years before the present is the furthest back most legitimate scholars will push the history of Sanskrit. Certainly not the 5,000 years before the present mentioned in this video. It is also like implying that "Internet" is 1,000 years old because it is a word used in English. The Sanskrit for Internet is apparently antarajālam.

[@GrandadTinkerer]

Andrew, brilliant as always. Not too keen on the readings. Poem was pure cheese!

[@mickeyfilmer5551]

If only Andrew had been my Chemistry teacher 50 odd years ago, I would have stuck at it- but alas my teacher was so uninspiring. I am sure any child in Andrew's class would love the subject.

[@donaldhoot7741]

Szydlo!!!!!!!! I yelled it so loud my neighbors heard! Szydlo!!!!!

[@fburton8]

Domaine du Vieux Vauvert Vouvray - a very drinkable medium-dry (actually medium-sweet) wine. Recommended, unless you’re asthmatic and allergic to sulphites. A tenner from Waitrose.

[@awmperry]

What's that? A new Szydlo lecture? Don't mind if I do!

[@cavelinguam6444]

Nice

[@subliminalvibes]

Yes, butane canisters will not operate correctly when tipped more than a few degrees This prevents one squirting liquid butane everywhere. Andres need to be a little more assertive! 👍😎

[@andrestrujado]

I know

[@CODA834]

that poor girl on the second row when the dude was reciting John Milton 😆

[@jkobain]

FFS! I've been longing for a lecture by Andrew!

[@RFC3514]

Hey, Andrew, what has Terry the Plumber been up to?

[@robinbrowne5419]

👍 I have learned a lot from Prof. Szydlo. I really enjoy the videos. I think my favourite one was the one where he was explaining that candles burn with a sooty flame and petrol burns with a blue flame in a motorcar engine. 🔥 I was testing that out by holding a tea saucer above a candle and observing the black sooty deposits. Until my wife said "What on earth are you doing? Making a filthy mess." "But the professor says..." said I. "Never mind" said she. "Now do the dishes." 🚙 Whenever we drive around in our Toyota Yaris I often envision the thousands of blue flames in the cylinders, and this is oddly satisfying. But I don't mention it to my wife or she would probably say that It's my turn to pay for gas, and she would probably be right. 🌋 As for the volcanoes, they remind me of an incident that happened with our microwave oven. I saw on KZbin that you can boil an egg in a glass of water in the microwave as long as the egg is completely covered in water. Either the video was wrong or I did it wrong because suddenly there was a loud BOOM from the microwave and the bottom of the microwave was covered in eggy water and the walls and ceiling of the microwave were coated in cooked egg. Fortunately my wife was at work. But I spent a miserable hour cleaning out the microwave before she got home from work. From then on I haven't believed everything I see on KZbin. But I do believe 99% of what Prof. Szydlo says, with the remaining 1% being that he knows what he has done with his tea 🍵. Cheers from Canada :-)

[@Jszar]

Re: microwave-boiling eggs in the shell: They explode because the water inside the egg boils, yet has nowhere to expand. Either use a lower power setting or salt the water-minimum 1/4 tsp. per 8oz (240mL)-to slow down the heat transfer.

[@robinbrowne5419]

@@Jszar A good explanation. Thank you. But I think the answer is not to do it. The explosion makes so much mess and it is so difficult to clean up that it is not worth the risk. Especially when there are so many other ways to boil an egg :-)

[@dpagain2167]

My father, born in 1908, had a Saturday night routine, along with his brothers and sisters. After the weekly bath, everyone was given a spoonful of blackstrap molasses and sulphur. That was supposed to keep them in good health.

[@rachelabbott236]

That sounds like it would taste atrocious! 😮

[@gazzas123]

my dad told me a story about acid. "Little Willy is gone now Little Willy is no more what he thought was H2O was H2SO4."

[@chipwillman6950]

Thanks for using the actor to give emotion to the reading. I appreciated it.

[@twocvbloke]

I can only imagine the odours in the lecture hall, must have smelled like it was cabbage & sprouts night in the canteen... :P

[@RyanMercer]

I wish I had half this guy's energy.

[@znotch87]

18:50 End of the reading.

[@Tularis]

Little Johnny was a chemists son but Johnny is no more. What Johnny thought was h2O was H2SO4.

[@vansf3433]

H2SO4+Z = H2 + Z(SO 4)

[@Jake-nn2jm]

it’s nice that the best potions professor at Hogwarts tried to teach us muggels something

[@atomsmurf]

Dear children, have a look at my big black monster

[@ianmasters4225]

He probably is the father some of us wanted.

[@antonylawrence7266]

What do you get if you mix a poet with a chemist, A Szydlo !

[@RFC3514]

What do you get when you mix Szydlo with a Terry? A very violent reaction! (it's a reference to some of his home videos)

[@PureCoKayne]

over an hour and a half long and i'm still hoping for some fast paced andrew action

[@horsetuna]

I think they switched his tea to decaff

[@CUMBICA1970]

34:37😪😪 😅😅

[@MrHouseparty6]

-1ea