Visualization of the High Surface-to-Volume Ratio of Nanomaterials and Its Consequences

When bulk materials are reduced in size to the nanometer scale, in particular, their surface-to-volume ratio increases drastically. We introduce some simple experiments on how to visualize this concept to students in the framework of a laboratory class. In the same context, experiments to demonstrate the consequences of this on the properties of the materials are introduced. This will involve solubility and chemical surface reactivity of the materials and properties originated from the surface. In the framework of their chemical reactivity, potential benefits and threads of nanomaterials due to their high surface-to-volume ratio will be discussed, such as applications as catalysts and their impact on nanotoxicology.