Chemistry Uni 1.5

Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with matter and its properties. It aims to explain how and why substances combine or separate to form other substances. Pure substances such as elements and compounds have different compositions, structures, properties, and behavior, which make them produce different results as they undergo a chemical reaction with other substances. Understanding how chemical molecules form and react to produce complex structures is necessary to be able to harness the benefits of chemistry and utilize them to create useful chemical products.

Chemical products are materials that contain chemical substances that are manufactured and processed for specific purposes such as medication, food preparation, cleaning and maintenance, fuel resources, and construction. These chemical products may contain elements or combinations of elements and compounds that enable them to serve their purpose.

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Common Pure Substances Used in Commercial Products

Medicine Products

A food supplement is any substance that is ingested in order to make up for one’s nutrient deficiency or to augment one’s dietary consumption. This substance can be taken in the form of pills, tablets, pastilles, ampoules, powder in sachets, or liquid drink. It can be directly extracted from food sources such as plants or can be artificially made in the laboratory. Synthetically made food supplements include vitamins and minerals that are products of a combination of several elements.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is known to boost one’s immune system. The molecule of vitamin C is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. With these elements combined together, the chemical formula for vitamin C is C6H8O6. Other supplements contain iodine and calcium, which helps aid in metabolism and promotes healthy bone development, respectively.

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Some medicine products are for topical administration or application on a certain part of the body. Antibacterial ointment, a medicine used to prevent bacterial infection on the skin, usually contains zinc, which helps increase the activity of the antibiotic. Medicinal soaps which are used to clean wounds or address skin rashes contain sulfur, which is known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

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Antiseptics or antimicrobial medicines used to prevent infection of wounds. Agua oxigenada is an antiseptic solution that contains hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This compound is known to break the cell walls of bacteria cells, which helps prevent infection of minor wounds such as cuts and scrapes. Another topical medicine, povidone-iodine (C6H9I2NO), serves as a skin disinfectant before and after surgery.

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Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (C9H8O4), is an anti-inflammatory medicine as well as an analgesic or pain reliever. It is often taken to relieve headaches and mild muscle and joint pains.

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Antacids are medicines taken to neutralize the acid in the stomach. Some antacids are in the form of effervescent tablets or those that dissolve in water and release carbon dioxide. A common antacid tablet is a combination of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and citric acid (C6H8O7). Another antacid, milk of magnesia, has magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) as its major component. Aside from being an antacid, milk of magnesia is also used as a laxative, especially by those who suffer mild constipation.

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Food Preparation Products

Condiments are products that are used for food preparation. These products add flavor to the food being prepared. Classic examples of condiments are table salt (NaCl) and sugar (C6H12O6). Monosodium glutamate (C5H8NO4Na), or commonly known as vetsin, is a seasoning used to enhance the natural flavors of food. These condiments are compounds.

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Other condiments like ketchup, soy sauce, and vinegar are a mixture of compounds and/or elements. For instance, ketchup contains a combination of table salt, sugar, vinegar, potassium, and phosphorus. Vinegar is a mixture of water and acetic acid (CH3COOH), which also contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

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Cooking oil is an essential fat that is used for cooking, frying, or baking. This substance may come from a plant, an animal, or is synthetically produced. Plant-based oils are coconut oil, sesame oil, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, or other vegetable oil. Butter and lard are examples of animal-based oil.

Coconut oil contains lauric acid (C12H24O2), a saturated fatty acid that raises the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the blood. Increasing the amount of HDL in the blood lowers the possibility of having cardiovascular diseases. Corn oil contains a high amount of linoleic acid (C18H32O2), another fatty acid that is essential for metabolic functions in the body. Canola and olive oil both contain a high amount of oleic acid (C18H34O2), a monounsaturated fatty acid that plays a significant role in keeping the layer of cell membrane thick. This is important for fighting pathogens as well as transporting minerals in the body.

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Cleaning Products

Cleaning products are chemical products that are used to remove dirt on hard surfaces. The purpose of these products is to eliminate dirt such as dust, foul odor, and stain. These products contain elements and compounds that are known to have cleaning properties.

Soap is a salt of fatty acids that are used for washing or bathing. It has a water-soluble compound that is made from saponification or a reaction between caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) or caustic potash (potassium hydroxide, KOH) and animal or vegetable oils. Soap has surfactants that separate the oil from the skin and suspend the dirt in the water while rinsing off.

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Detergents, on the other hand, are made from petroleum-based products and some heavy soaps that are made from lead, zinc, or other heavy-metal compounds that are mainly used in lubricating greases. Other common compounds that are used in detergents are sodium carbonate (NaHCO3), sodium borate (Na[B4O5(OH)4].8H2O), and sodium triphosphate (Na5P3O10). Similar to detergents, dishwashing soaps also contain sodium carbonate, which is effective in removing greases. Bleach is a chemical product that is also used to remove stains in clothes. Liquid bleach is a diluted sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution. This compound is unstable and easily dissolves in water and liberates chlorine, which has a bleaching effect on soaked clothes.

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Maintenance Products

Maintenance products are used for servicing, repairing, and restoring various materials or equipment to keep them from functioning. Lubricants are oils that are used to reduce the friction on surfaces of objects that are in contact. These products are often applied to gears of machines to lessen the possibility of overheating due to high friction.

Paints are pigmented liquids that are used to color or protect the surface of an object. These products are a combination of pigments, binders, and thinners. The main compounds that are present in most paints are ethyl acetate (C4H8O2), toluene (C7H8), butyl acetate (CH3COO(CH2)3CH3), and barium sulfate (BaSO4).

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Comparing Consumer Products

There are various consumer products that are being offered in the market. Each product claims to be effective and cost-efficient. However, it is important to consider the components of the chemical products you are using to determine whether it is safe, effective, and cost-efficient.

Most medicine products like food supplements can be bought over-the-counter or without prescription. However, before taking in any food supplement, it is important to consult first a nutritionist to determine the kind of food supplement that your body needs in order to augment its nutrition.

The concentration of the active ingredient in topical medicines like antibacterial ointment should be considered before applying it to the affected area. For instance, some antibacterial ointments vary in the percentage of the amount of active ingredients they contain. An ointment that contains a lower percentage of active ingredients may be used multiple times in a day. However, those ointments that contain a higher percentage of active ingredients may only be applied once or twice, depending on the doctor's prescription.

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Antacids are administered to those who suffer from hyperacidity or excessive amounts of acids in the stomach. There are different kinds of antacid medications that are being prescribed to patients with hyperacidity. Chewable antacid tablets with sodium bicarbonate are often administered for fast relief of hyperacidity. However, for a longer-lasting benefit, milk of magnesia is administered to those who suffer from recurring hyperacidity.

In buying condiments, it is important to take note of its ingredients and see if there are artificial flavorings or colors that may bring harm to one’s health when ingested. As much as possible, try to buy condiments that are extracted from natural sources. Also, food condiments are used to enhance flavors only. Do not rely too much on using them in food preparation as too much of it may bring adverse effects to one’s health.

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There is a wide variety of cleaning products that are being sold in the market. All brands claim to be effective and cost-efficient. However, one of the considerations that consumers should take in purchasing cleaning products is its component that may also affect the environment. Though all cleaning products aim to remove dirt on a surface of an object, some cleaning products contain chemicals that are not easily degraded when disposed of to the environment. This may add up to environmental pollution, which can also have a long term effect if left unattended.