Have you ever wondered what chemicals are in the products that you purchase? In this section, we aim to improve your understanding of the chemicals that are in the products that are commonly found in an everyday setting. We are not “re-inventing the wheel” in uncovering the underlying chemistry in consumer products, rather.
We strive for awareness to the community at large. Through awareness of the chemicals, we as a society can start making more informed decisions about which products are harmful to us or not. Therefore, in order to achieve the previously stated goal above, we will provide a blend of personal knowledge with references along with links to various descriptions on awareness issues. This will include a series of questions and answers that have literature references to back up the interpretations that are listed. An overview is here.
Experiments in progress are chronicled in our blogger pages here. Current efforts to reclaim grey water containing dishsoap and its effect on Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) are underway. A detailed analysis of the ingredients in environmentally friendly (and regular) dishsoap and laundry detergent are here.
Questions and Answers
(1) How do I make my own lip gloss?
(2) How do I make my own soap?
(3) How do I make my own homemade jam (jelly / marmalade)?
(4) How do I make my own facial (emollient) cream?
(5) How do I make my own hair treatment (shampoo)?
(6) How do I make my own clarifying (facial) mask?
(7) How do I make my own salad dressing?
(8) How do I make my own therapeutic bath?
(9) Why should I care what types of Chemicals are in Consumer Products? Click here to find out.
(10) Where are toxic chemicals in the average household? Click here to see a general chart.
(11) What are the benefits of drinking Coconut water? Click here to start a journey into finding out.
(12) What is meant by "processed foods" on a given product label? Click here to read an introduction into the issue by Dr. David Katz!
(13) What 'toxic' chemicals are associated with 'e-cigarette' use? Click --here -- to access our 'e-cigarette' page which contains a wealth of links.
(14) Is infertility link to chemical exposure? A study links 'Plasticizing Agents' to sperm impairment and more. Click--here--to access links to the study.
(15) What is being done to move toward using "green chemicals" from toxic chemicals? Here is an op-ed that serves as an introduction.
(16) Do you know what ingredients are 'really inside' your 'supplements' or 'vitamins' that you are taking? Find out more about dangerous ingredients!
(17) GNC settles law suit in New York by incorporating DNA testing of 'supplement' products -- Click -- Here to read more!
(18) Are chemicals used as 'fire retardants' linked to 'obesity'?? Click--here--to find out.
(19) Are 'artificial sweeteners' found in diet soda linked to 'obesity'?? Click--here--to find out.
(20) Does the chemical 'glyphosate' found in the pesticide 'Roundup' cause cancer? Click--here--to find out.
(21) What do the ratings by the International Agency for Research on Cancer mean on consumer products? Click--here--to find out.
The Basics--Glossary of Terms Used
Mole
602214150000000000000000 units of something (could be atoms, molecules, ions, etc.). We say the mole is a chemist's best friend because if you have one mole of salt, it would make a pile large enough to weigh on a balance. Atoms and molecules are so small that we need lots of them to be able to see that we have some matter in front of us.
Substance
A uniform (on the molecular level) sample of matter. Example: water is a molecule, containing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, abbreviated as H2O. A sample of pure water would contain only H2O molecules and no other type of atom or molecule.
Mixture
Contains two (or more) substances. These substances may have even (homogenous) or uneven (heterogenous) distribution in space. Example: salt water is a mixture containing both salt (sodium chloride, or NaCl) and water (H2O). Even though there are four types of atoms in this mixture, there are only two substances; salt and water.
Solute
The substance present in lesser amount. Example: in salt water, the salt is the solute. Seawater is approximately 53.6 moles of water for every 0.5 moles of NaCl.
Solvent
The substance present in the greatest amount. Example: in salt water, the water is the solvent.
Solution
A mixture of a solvent and one (or more) solutes.
Intermediate
Suspension
The particles suspended in the solvent will eventually settle out. The solute is large enough to be caught in a filter.
Homogenous mixture
The solute and solvent are essentially molecular-scale (molecules) and are evenly mixed throughout the solution.
Colloid
There are large aggregates of solute but these aggregates are slightly larger than molecules and will not settle out of solution.
Miscible / Soluble
Two substances may easily mix. We call these substances miscible, especially for two liquid substances. Solids may be slightly soluble in a particular solvent. Solubility generally increases with increasing temperature and for two "like" substances, similar in structure and properties. If two substances do not mix, we call them immiscible or insoluble.
Emulsion
When a mixture is formed between two immiscible liquids, via the addition of a third substance, an emulsion is formed. The third substance is called the emulsifying agent.
Advanced
Surfactant
Lowers the surface tension of water (or other solvent) permitting water to more fully penetrate fabric, derived from the phrase "surface active agent." Surfactants in your laundry soap link dirt particles and water. Surfactants can be emulsifying agents. Common synthetic types are linear alkyl sulfonates (LAS).
Detergent
Anything that behaves like a cleaning agent. A more limited definition is substances which are derived from petrochemical or synthetically-derived source (synthetic). Alternatives to synthetic detergents include Simple Green and Pine-Sol. A detergent is a type of surfactant.
Soap
Made for use on human skin and not for clothes. The soap-making process involves installing a polar head-group onto an existing long-chain fatty acid (can be found in olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, lard, etc.) from plant or animal origin. A soap is a type of surfactant.
Builder
Ties up hard water ions such as calcium and magnesium, which is necessary to prevent them from blocking the surfactant's ionic site. Common builders include polyphosphates.
Anti-redeposition agents
Keeps dirt in suspension once it has been removed from the fabric. Carboxymethylcellulose (from wood) is commonly used for this purpose.
Works Cited:
Cobb, V. Science Experiments You Can Eat. Harpercollins Publisher (1972), Paperback. Chapter 3: Suspensions, Colloids, and Emulsions. p. 28-39.
Stoker, S. H. and Seager, S. L. Environmental Chemistry: Air and Water Pollution. Scott, Foreman and Comapany, Glenview, IL (1972), Paperback. Chapter 11: Detergents, p. 142-151.
Mainland High School. Soaps and Detergents http://www.algebralab.org/passage/passage.aspx?file=chemistry_soaps.xml Accessed 8/10/12.