Chemistry is an integral part of our everyday lives. It is the branch of science that studies the properties and changes of matter. From the way our bodies exchange oxygen to the creation of the universe, chemistry plays a role in it all.

The Importance of Chemistry in Everyday Life

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Everyday Uses of Food Chemicals

In food materials, the following chemicals are widely used:

1. Coloring Agents

2. Artificial Preservatives

3. Flow Stabilizers

4. Binding Substance

5. Artificial Sweetness

6. Antioxidants

7. Minerals

8. Vitamins

‘Except for vitamins, the remaining substances do not have nutritional value.’

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Artificial Preservatives: These prevent spoilage of food by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. For example, Sodium Benzoate and Sodium Metabisulphate.

Artificial Sweetness: These substances do not provide any calories to the body and are excreted through urine. For example,

1. Aspartame: It is commonly used as a sweetener in cool drinks and ice-creams.

2. Alitame: It is 2000x sweeter than sucrose.

Antioxidants: These prevent the spoilage of food by stopping the oxidation process. For instance, they can help keep fruits and vegetables from turning brown or becoming rancid.

1. Butylated Hydroxyl Tolerance (BHT)

2. Butylated Hydroxyl Anisole (BHA)

Dyes are coloured organic compounds that are used to impart colour to various substrates, including paper, leather, fur, hair, drugs, and cosmetics. Dyes are classified into Natural Dyes and Synthetic Dyes.

Chemistry of Cleansing Agents in Everyday Life

What are Soaps and Detergents?

Soaps and detergents are surfactants that are used for cleaning purposes. They are made from a combination of ingredients, including alkylbenzenesulfonates, which are similar to soap but are less affected by hard water. Detergents are used for a variety of cleaning tasks, including laundry, dishwashing, and general cleaning.

Soaps are usually composed of sodium or potassium salts of higher carboxylic acids such as stearic acid, Palmitic acid and oleic acid, whereas detergents contain a long chain of alkyl groups. Compared to soaps, detergents can also function in hard water.

Saponification: Alkaline hydrolysis of triesters of glycerol to form soap is known as saponification. Hard water prevents soap from functioning effectively, as it causes the soap to precipitate.

What are the Mechanisms of Soap?

Soaps are typically composed of sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids. These molecules have both a hydrophobic and hydrophilic end. The hydrophilic end attaches to the water when washing, while the hydrophobic end clings to dirt particles. Therefore, when the water is poured away, the dirt particles are washed away along with the soap molecules.

Also Check Out: Cleansing Action of Soaps and Detergents

Types of Soaps

1. Toilet Soaps: Soaps made with Potassium are softer than those made with Sodium.

2. Floating Soaps: These can be created by whipping up soap bubbles.

3. Transparent Soaps: This contains soap dissolved in an excess amount of alcohol which is then evaporated.

4. Medicated Soaps: These soaps contain small amounts of Dettol, Savlon, etc.

5. Laundry Soaps mainly contain Sodium Rosinate and Borax.

Types of Detergents:

Anionic Detergent: Anions act as detergents, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate.

Cationic Detergents:

Cationic detergents are those in which a cation acts as a detergent. For example, Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide.

Non-Ionic Detergents: These are neutral, and the entire molecule acts as a detergent. For example, Polyethylene glycol stearate.

The Chemistry Behind Cosmetics in Everyday Life

Cosmetics contain the following categories of chemicals:

Emulsifier: These increase the stability of the emulsion, such as Potassium cetyl sulfate.

Preservatives: These are added to cosmetics to extend their shelf life. For example, benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid.

Thickeners: These provide a desirable texture. For example, Cetyl alcohol, Stearic acid.

Emollient: These soften the skin by preventing water loss, such as Glycerine and Zinc Oxide.

Glimmer and Shiners: For example, mica, bismuth oxychloride.

Other Examples of Chemistry in Everyday Life

• Cooking
• Cleaning
• Photosynthesis
• Combustion

Let’s Talk About Common Examples of Chemistry in Everyday Life That Most of Us Never Knew About

The Shelf Life of Bottled Drinking Water

Have you ever stopped to consider why there is an expiration date on a bottle of drinking water? After all, it’s just water, right? Most of us likely haven’t noticed that there is, in fact, an expiration date on the bottle. The purpose of having an expiration date on bottled drinking water is to ensure the packaging meets a certain quality standard.

The expiration date indicates that if it has passed, the taste of the water may be altered as the chemicals in the packaging may have caused a deterioration in the quality of the water.

Major Elements in the Human Body:

We all know our body is about 60% water, but then what composes the rest of it? Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen. These elements compose 96% of the human body. Whereas the rest 4% is composed of about 60 elements. Some of these elements include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur.

Sunblock vs. Sunscreen:

Sunscreen provides protection from sunburns caused by UV-B radiation, while sunblock has a more reflective nature and blocks both UV-A and UV-B radiations.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the most commonly used artificial sweetener in cool drinks and ice-creams?

Aspartame is used in cool drinks and ice-creams. For example, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is an anionic detergent commonly used in shampoos and other personal care products.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is an anionic detergent found in shampoos. Preservatives are typically added to increase the shelf life of cosmetics.

Salicylic acid increases the shelf life of cosmetics. For example, cetrimonium chloride is a cationic detergent commonly used in cosmetics formulations.

Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide is an example of cationic detergent. Which rays do sunscreens block?

Sunscreens block UV-B rays.