/oss/taxonomy/term/1123/all en /oss/article/environment-news/solving-solution-problems <p>Solvents! What do you think of? Nail polish remover? Dry cleaning fluid? Yes, those are solvents. But there’s a lot more to the story. Chemistry would not be possible without the use solvents. Most chemical reactions are carried out in solvents and any time you hear of some substance being extracted from a plant or herb, you’re looking at a solvent in action. The simplest and safest solvent is water. When you brew coffee or tea you are using water as a solvent. But the majority of substances chemists deal with are not soluble in water and require the use of an organic solvent.</p> Fri, 05 Jul 2013 15:54:10 +0000 Alexandra Pires-Ménard, OSS Intern 1977 at /oss