♥ chemistry in my daily life

♥ Chocolate~

2009-07-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Talk about my favorite chocolates. I love chocolates very much. People who know me well will know that. Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree.

To make a chocolate, beans are processed. In factory, the beans are roasted. Then they are cracked. The pieces of beans are called nibs, and are ground, into a thick creamy paste, known as chocolate liquor. This "liquor" is then process into chocolate by mixing in more cocoa, sugar, vanilla and lecithin as an emulsifier. Then, it separated into cocoa powder and cocoa butter using a hydraulic process. Adding an alkali produces Dutch process cocoa powder, which is less acidic, darker in flavor. Non-alkalized cocoa is acidic, so when cocoa is treated with an alkaline ingredient, generally potassium carbonate, the pH increases.

Chocolate and cocoa contain a high level of flavonoids, which may have beneficial to the cardiovascular effects on health. The ingestion of flavonol-rich cocoa is associated with acute elevation of circulating nitric oxide, enhanced flow-mediated vasodilation. Prolonged the intake of flavonol-rich cocoa has been linked to cardiovascular health benefits. Milk chocolate's addition of whole milk reduces the overall cocoa content while increasing saturated fat levels, possibly negating some of cocoa's heart-healthy potential benefits. Studies have still found short term benefits in LDL cholesterol levels from dark chocolate consumption.

The researchers found that the Kuna Indians living on the islands had significantly lower rates of heart disease and cancer compared to those on the mainland who do not drink cocoa. It is believed that the improved blood flow after consumption of flavonol-rich cocoa may help to achieve health benefits in hearts and other organs. In addition, the benefits may extend to the brain. Cocoa also contains large amounts of antioxidants. According to research, cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine, and up to three times the antioxidants found in green tea. Cocoa also contains magnesium, iron, chromium, vitamin C, zinc and other substances.

Everyone, start to take chocolates from now in a suitable amount can help to improve blood flow in heart.

♥ Cigarette~

2009-07-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

Nowadays more and more people are smoking. I hate smoker!! The smoke made me feel dizzy and uncomfortable.
A cigarette is a product consumed through smoking and manufactured out of cured and finely cut tobacco leaves and reconstituted tobacco.

The effects of smoking on human health are serious and deadly. There are many chemicals in cigarettes which are toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect the internal function of organs. The effects of cigarette smoking are destructive and widespread.

The following are how smoking effects on the human body
· Toxic ingredients in cigarette smoke travel throughout the body, causing damage.
· Nicotine reaches the brain after smoke is inhaled.
· Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing affected cells from carrying a full load of oxygen.
· Cancer-causing agents in tobacco smoke damage genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally.
· Smoking affects the function of the immune system.
· Smokers have lower levels of antioxidants in their blood which help in repairing the damaged cells.

Cigarette smoking accounts cancer deaths. It is a major cause of lung, voice box (larynx), mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), bladder, the swallowing tube connected to the stomach (oesophagus). Smoking is also linked to pancreas, cervix, kidney, stomach, some leukaemia. Smoking is responsible of lung cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, and it is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Lung cancer is a disease that can often be prevented.

say no to cigarette now~ ^^

♥ Paracetamol~

2009-07-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Paracetamol is a widely used as a pain reliever and fever reducer. It is commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and aches and pains. Paracetamol is also used in the management of more severe pain (such as cancer).

Generally safe for human use at recommended doses, acute overdoses (above 1000 mg per single dose and above 4000 mg per day for adults, above 2000 mg per day if drinking alcohol) of paracetamol can cause fatal liver damage and, in rare individuals, a normal dose can do the same. Paracetamol toxicity is the most cause of liver failure.

Paracetamol is derived from coal tar, and it is a part of the class of drugs. Paracetamol consists of a benzene ring, substituted by one hydroxyl group and the nitrogen atom of an amide group. The amide group is acetamide. The presence of the two activate groups also make the benzene ring highly reactive. Compared with many other drugs, paracetamol is much more easier to synthesize.

Industrial preparation of paracetamol usually proceeds from nitrobenzene. Paracetamol can be easily prepared in the laboratory by nitrating phenol with sodium nitrate, separating the desired p-nitrophenol from the ortho- byproduct, and reducing the nitro group with sodium borohydride. The resultant p-aminophenol is then acetylated with acetic anhydride. In this reaction, phenol is strongly activating, thus the reaction only requires mild conditions:

Paracetamol is commonly available in a tablet and capsule. The recommended maximum daily dose, for adults, is 4 grams. Paracetamol generally is safe for children, as well as for adults. Panadol, which is marketed and it is the most widely available brand. Taking too much of paracetamol is not good for our health.

♥ Salicylic acid~

2009-07-12T04:18:00.000-07:00

Say bye bye to blemishes. Fight the blemishes and breakouts with the nature. St. Ives gently help to prevent and to treat breakouts with ingredients from nature.

Apricot face wash is the deep cleans and treats blemishes. The face wash are with microbeads and apricot extracts, it can deeply cleans pores. It contains:
-Oil Free - 2% Salicylic Acid
-Dermatologist Tested
-Non-Comedogenic
-Not tested on animals

Salicylic acid (Salix) is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) with the formula C6H4(OH)COOH, where the OH group is adjacent to the carboxyl group. This colorless crystalline organic acid is widely used in organic synthesis. It is derived from the metabolism of salicin. It is probably for use in anti-acne treatments. It is poorly soluble in water.

Salicylic acid is an organic acid biosynthesized from the amino acid phenylalanine. Sodium salicylate is commercially prepared by treating sodium phenolate with carbon dioxide at high pressure and high temperature. This is a method known as the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction. Acidification of the product with sulfuric acid gives salicylic acid:

It can be prepared by the hydrolysis of Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or methyl salicylate (Oil of Wintergreen) with a strong acid or base. It is known for its ability to ease aches and pains and reduce fevers. The medicinal properties of salicylate, mainly for fever relief, have been known since ancient times, and it was used as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Salicylic acid is a ingredient in many skin-care products for the treatment of acne. It works as a keratolytic by causing the cells of the epidermis to shed more readily, preventing pores from clogging up, and allowing for new cell growth. Because of its effect on skin cells, salicylic acid is used in several shampoos used to treat dandruff.
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA) can be prepared by the esterification of the phenolic hydroxyl group of salicylic acid.

Subsalicylate in combination with bismuth form the popular stomach relief aid known commonly as Pepto-Bismol. When combined, the two key ingredients help control diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, and gas. It is also a very mild antibiotic. Choline salicylate is used topically to relieve the pain of aphthous ulcers.

♥ Sensodyne~

2009-07-04T00:03:00.000-07:00

Sensodyne
My father was getting toothache for almost one week and still he don’t want to see dentist. Therefore, my uncle advises him to use sensodyne toothpaste to relieve the pain. And it really helps. After came to KL study, I get toothache, growing wisdom tooth and it was so suffering. I can’t eat what I like!! I suffered for almost one month. Growing wisdom tooth is so cruel. Making my life without the food I like. And so dad advises me to use it too. It really helps in relieving the pain.

Sensodyne was the desensitizing toothpaste. It has undergone formulation enhancements since launch. For all the products, when used every day, it relieves sensitive teeth by building a protective barrier that can blocks the pain caused by hot, cold, sweet, acidic and other contact triggers.

It is a desensitizing toothpaste. It can relieving the pain of sensitive teeth. It is advice to use every day because it relieves sensitive teeth by building a protective barrier that blocks the pain caused by hot, cold, sweet, acidic and other contact triggers.

It is recommended by dentists, because:
· It contains an active ingredient, which is Potassium Nitrate, which is to reduce the painful sensitivity
· It provides fast relief
· It has fluoride for cavity protection

The ingredients are divided into two, active ingredients and inactive ingredients.
Active ingredients contain:
Potassium Nitrate 5% (for antihypersensitivity), Sodium fluoride 0.13% w/v fluoride ion (for anticavity)

Inactive ingredients contain:
Cellulose gum, D&C red #28, Flavour, Glycerine, Hydrated silica, Silica, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Sodium saccharin, Sorbitol, Titanium dioxide, Trisodium phosphate, WaterThis product does not contains any sugar.

We are advice to brush teeth at least twice a day to relieve the sensitivity. Sensodyne contains the maximum strength of a desensitizing ingredient (Potassium Nitrate). Potassium Nitrate desensitizes the nerve endings within the tubules found in the dentin, the sensitive layer of the tooth under the enamel, causing them to be less responsive to hot, cold, sweet, acidic or contact triggers. When we used it every day, it can builds a protective barrier that blocks the pain of sensitive teeth and keeps it from coming back.

There are also has some other products. Sensitivity products: Original, extra whitening, fresh impact, fresh mint, full protection, cool gel, tartar control. Acid erosion products: ProNamel for children, mint essence, gentle whitening.