Cosmetics

Cosmetics- a magical tool that makes everyone look flawless and radiant.

Cosmetics have play an important role in our daily life. Nowadays, it is not only that women apply cosmetics, we also often see some of  men using cosmetics. Cosmetics which is also called makeup or make-up, are the substances that we used to improve the appearance or odour of our body in order to become more attractive and give a good impression to other people. Example of cosmetics are skin care products, lotion, powder, perfumes, lipsticks and so on.

A subset of cosmetics is "make-up", which refers primarily to colouring products intended to enhance a person's appearance. Putting up make up have become an essential for girls and women to do that everyday to unzip their make up bags and apply some foundation, lipstick, eye shadow and other types of products. You may not know that all the cosmetic products that we applied on our face which gives beauty effect are the work of chemistry.

Effect of organic chemical in cosmetic to our bodies

There are various of organic chemicals used in the preparation of cosmetics which should be used cautiously and appropriately, or else they can have harmful effects to our body. The table below shows the use of organic chemicals in the manufacturing of cosmetic products and the effect that caused by it.

Organic chemical in cosmetic	Uses	Harmful effect
Coal Tar - a brown-black material and thick liquid formed during the incomplete combustion of coal	- to treat itchy, dry and scaling skin - can be found in shampoo, lotion, soap, and scalp treament	- increase the risk of folliculitis  ( folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicle )
Triclosan - an antifungal and antibacterial agent found in consumer product	- to inhibit the growth of bacteria - can be found in toothpaste and cleansers	- affect hormone system
3.   Lead acetate - a white crystalline substances with a sweetish taste made by treating lead (II) oxide with acetic acid	- to be used as a colour additive   in men’s hair dye products	- cause brain damage if it is used in a long period of time
4. Formaldehyde - a naturally-occuring organic compound with the formula CH2O	- to prevent bacterial contamination - can be found in nail polishes,hair dye, soaps, shampoo, lotions and so on	- excessive exposure may result in skin irritation or asthma - increase the risk of cancer
5. Diethanolamine (DEA) - an organic compound which is white solid at room temperature	- to act as emulsifiers to produce foams and bubbles in cosmetics - to be used to adjust the pH value of a product - can be found in shampoo, body washes and soap	- excessive exposure may have detrimental effects on brain development
6. Butyl acetate - clear liquid with fruity odors	- used in nail polish,nail polish remover and basecoats	- the vapour may leads to drowsiness and dizziness
7. Propylene glycol - a viscous colourless liquid or organic alcohol	- to formulate fragrances - acts as moisturizers to enhance the appearance of skin - can be found in lotions and skin care creams	- speed up the signs of aging on the skin - may lead to contact dermatitis and irritation
8. Phthalates - a diverse group of materials that made plastics more flexible	- to increase the flexibility, durability, longevity and transparency of plastics - can be found in nail polish, hair spray, shampoo, soaps, perfumes and so on	- excessive usage of will affect human development and reproduction - cause irritation of eyes
9. Toluene -a clear liquid with an aromatic odour	- acts as a solvent to dissolve other substances such as plasticizers and resins - can be found in nail polish	- high exposure will have dry or cracked skin - cause headache and also irritation of eyes and throat

*VIDEO*

Reference:

Website

http://nonstophealthy.com/harmful-chemicals-personal-care-products/

https://www.organicfacts.net/organic-products/organic-cosmetics/harmful-chemicals-in-personal-care-products.html

http://generalchemistryandwhatnot.blogspot.my/

http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/coal-tar/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics

http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org

http://www.livestrong.com/article/200294-the-effects-of-nail-polish-ingredients/

http://www.treehugger.com/organic-beauty/20-toxic-ingredients-avoid-when-buying-body-care-products-and-cosmetics.html

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/environmental-breast-cancer-links/cosmetics/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Food Additives

Food additives- something we use to love and hate

Have you ever wondered what gives a beautiful texture and an appealing appearance to the manufactured food? Do you know what the chemical additives are that make the food last longer and stay fresh? That’s food additive! You can barely avoid consuming products that contains food additives because even organic products use them. 

In 21^st century, development in food engineering and food technology becomes more advanced and this has led to the discovery of numerous new substances which are able to fulfill multiple functions in foods. Nevertheless, some food additives cause side effects and endanger human’s health. Therefore, knowing the chemical behind the food additive is very crucial in order to keep one’s life healthy and good.

What is food additive?

Food additives are chemical substances added to food in certain quantities for specific purposes such as enhancing its taste and texture or maintaining the shelf- life of food and improving its appearance. Most food additives labeling can be found on a product, together with nutrition information and other ingredients.

Food additives can be divided into several groups, even though overlapping occurs between them.

Food additives	Uses	Example of food that used that particular food additives
1. Acids	- to act as an antioxidant and preservatives - to add tartness to the flavor of food	- ketchup
2. Food coloring	- to improve appearance - to replace colour lost during preparation	- candies - yogurt - flavored popcorn
3. Emulsifiers	- to let water and oil remain mixed together in emulsion	- mayonnaise - ice cream
4. Food flavoring	- to make the food taste better - to enhance the flavor	- jam - instant noodle
5. Humectant	- to remain the moisture of food	- semi-moist raisins - cheese
6. Preservatives	- to prevent the growth of microorganism	- pickles - carbonated drinks
7. Stabilizers	- to provide a firmer texture to the food	- peanut butter - ice cream
8. Sweetener	- to substitute the sweetness normal provided by sugars in foods without contributing significantly to their available energy	- low-fat flavored milk - jellies
9. Thickeners	- to prevent the food from liquefying	- sauce - jellies

Organic chemical found in food additives

Organic chemical	Uses	Hazardous causes
1. Polysorbate 80 - an emulsifier commonly used in food - it is a synthetic compound - it is a viscous and water soluble yellow liquid	- to act as an emulsifier in food - to make food like ice-cream be easy to handle and smoother	- it will affect the immune system - to increase the risk of getting heart attack or stroke
2. Propyl gallate - a.k.a. 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate - an ester formed by the condensation of gallic acid and propanol	- to act as an antioxidant ( can be found in chewing gum, meat products and breakfast cereal)	- it can link to cancer - certain possible reactions may occur in human like asthma attacks and allergic reactions
3. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) - an antioxidant consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds - it is a waxy solid	- it is used as an antioxidant as well as preservative in food - to prevent food from spoiling ( can be found in chewing gum, potato chips and candy)	- it causes hyperactivity, asthma and tumor growth
4. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - a lipophilic organic compound	- to act as an antioxidant - to prevent food from oxidizing	- it forms cancer-causing reactive compound in human’s body
5. Aspartame - an artificial and low-calorie  sweetener	- to sweeten different kind of food and beverages ( can be found in sugar-free beverages, power bars and some brands of chewable vitamin supplements)	- it leads to dizziness, headache and blurred vision
6. Sucralose - a chlorinated sugar - a common chlorocarbon	- to act as sweetener in a variety of food and beverages ( can be found in pudding, some diet soda and sugar-free food)	- it results in swelling of liver and kidney
7. Indigo dye - an organic compound with a distinctive blue colour	- to act as an artificial coloring ( can be found in candy and soft drinks)	- it can cause cancer - it can also damage chromosomes
8. Azodicarbonamide - a yellow to orange red, odorless, crystalline powder	- to be used as a flour bleaching agent and dough conditioner ( can be found in bread and other bakery products)	- it can lead to asthma and allergies

Reference:

Websites

http://www.chemistryindustry.biz/preservatives.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive

http://www.chemistryindustry.biz/preservatives.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_food_additives

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/additives

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/03/04/20-ingredients-to-memorize-and-avoid-in-any-food-you-consume/

http://peopleforethicalliving.com/health-and-fitness/food-choices-nutrition/dangerous-food-additives/

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/darbepoetin-alfa-polysorbate-80.html

http://mphprogramslist.com/50-jawdroppingly-toxic-food-additives-to-avoid/

http://life.gaiam.com/article/10-worst-food-additives-where-they-lurk

Quote of the day:

Detergent

Detergent- one of the most important helpers in our daily life.

Detergent is one of the most important daily products that we use to carry out laundry. We use detergent to clean our clothes because greasy stain and organic solid cannot be removed by pure water itself.

source from theopenscroll.blogspot.com

source from http://www.huffingtonpost.com

It is a common myth that many believe that the more detergent they use, the cleaner their clothes will be. But that is not how a laundry detergent works. In fact, all laundry detergent leave a residue on clothing, which will be absorbed by our skin and cause certain ill effects like skin or eye irritation. As a result, being a wise consumer should be more alert in choosing the suitable detergent by understanding more about the components in detergent and how detergent actually works to perform such a clean and bright appearance for our clothing.

source from www.huffingtonpost.ca

 What is detergent?

Generally, detergent is known as a substance that helps removing the dirt or stain. It is an effective cleaning product due to the fact that it contains one or more surfactants. A surfactant is an organic chemical that tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. These surfactants are able to perform well under different types of conditions. Detergents are commonly found in powdered form or concentrated solutions. Detergents, similarly to soap, are amphiphilic: partially hydrophilic (soluble in water) and partially hydrophobic (soluble in oil). By having such dual nature, it facilitates the mixture of hydrophobic compounds (like grease and oil) with water. 

Structure of the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), showing the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

Chemical classification of detergents

Basically, detergents are classified into four main groups. There are anionic, cationic, non-ionic and amphoteric detergents. The classification depends on the electrical charge of the surfactants.

Anionic detergents

Anionic means a negatively charged molecule. These detergents are named so because a major part of their molecules are anion. Anionic part of molecule plays a role in cleansing action. Anionic surfactants are used in household cleaner and laundry. For instance, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates is a typical anionic surfactant used in detergent.

Cationic detergents

Cation means positively charged. The reason the detergents are cationic is because a large part of their molecule are cations and cationic part is involved in cleansing action. Cationic surfactants are often used in fabric softeners. For example, quaternary ammonium salts is one of the cationic surfactants used in detergent.

Nonionic detergents

As the name implies, these detergents do not contain any ions. They are “ionically” inert. Since they do not ionize in solution, they are resistant to water hardness. Nonionic surfactants are commonly used in laundry as well. For instance, alcohol ethoxylates are widely used.

Amphoteric detergents

Amphoteric detergents contain both acidic and basic groups in their molecule. Hence, they have the ability to be anionic and cationic in solution, depending on the acidic or alkalinity of water. But they tend to work best at neutral pH. The usage of this type of detergent is mainly for personal cleaning because of their stability and mildness. The major amphoterics are imidazolines and betaines.

Ingredients used in detergents and its functions

Ingredients	Functions	Examples of organic chemicals in the ingredients of detergents
1. Alkalis	- to increase alkalinity in order to get rid of acidic, fatty and oily soils. - make builders and surfactants more efficient	Ethanolamines - an organic chemical compound used in raw material of in the production of detergents
2. Antiredeposition agents	- to prevent soil from depositing after removal during washing	Carboxymethyl cellulose - one of the most versatile hydrocolloids used  - its various properties makes it useful in many industrial applications
3. Biological enzymes	- to break down fat and protein molecules in food stains	Lipase  - enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of fats Protease - enzyme that carries out proteolysis
4. Bleach	- to help whiten and brighten - to remove stains	Tetraacetylethylenediamine - an organic chemical used as a peroxide bleach activator in household detergents
5. Hydrotropes	- to prevent liquids product from separating into layers	Ethyl alcohol - a colorless flammable liquid
6. Preservatives	- to protect against natural effects of product aging, e.g., decay, discoloration, oxidation and bacterial attack	Butylated hydroxytoluene - a lipophilic, organic compuond, chemically a derivative of phenol   - useful for antioxidant properties. Ethylenediamine   - an organic compound in colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odour
7. Solvents	- to carry out cleaning without leaving residues - to prevent separation or deterioration of ingredients in liquid products	Ethanol - a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a slight chemical odour - miscible with water - a good general purpose solvent Isopropanol - a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor - a structural isomer of propanol
8. Stabilizers	- to prevent the formation of foam which in excess that will affect the performance of automatic washing machines.	2-Butoxyethanol   - organic compound which has colorless liquid and a sweet, ether-like odor - derives from the family of glycol ethers and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol - a relatively nonvolatile, inexpensive solvent of low toxicity

The cleansing action of detergent

Step 1: Action of detergent on dirt

When detergent is mixed with water, it lowers the surface tension of water and wets the dirty surface. The hydrophilic part (head) of detergent ion dissolve in water. The hydrophobic part (tail part) of detergent ions dissolve in the layer of grease.

Step 2: Dirt being surrounded by detergent ions

When water is agitated slightly, it helps to loosen the grease and lift the grease off the fabric surface.

Step 3: Lifting dirt from cloth

On further agitation during cleaning, the oily dirt is lifted up from the surface since the density of oil is less than water. 

Step 4: Emulsifying dirt in water

When water is shaken, the grease will be emulsified when it breaks into smaller droplets. These greasy droplets repel one another because they can carry the same charge. Therefore, the grease is suspended in the solution. When the cloth is rinsed with water, the droplets will be washed away and leaving the cloth clean.

References:

Websites

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/detergent.aspx

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/biofiles/detergent-properties.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detergent

http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/soaps__detergents_chemistry.aspx

http://www.slideshare.net/apoorvjndl/soaps-and-detergents-42434087

Quote of the day: