The Chemistry of Lotion

• Sodium Dioxide (NaOH)
• Water (H2O)
• Titanium Dioxide (TiO2 )
• Petroleum (CnH2n+2)
• Glycerin (C3H8O3)
• Citric Acid (C6H8O7)
• Butylene Glycol (C4H10O2)

Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components

• Petroleum (CnH2n+2)- another name for it is Mineral Oil. It is dug up from the ground and refined. What it does is trap the moisture to your skin, which can clog your pores. It’s naturally occurring, but unfortunately it has become harder to find since the demand for it has increased. It is formed when plants or organisms are trapped in layers of sediment for millions of years!
• Water (H2O)- covers about 70 percent of the earth. Found all over rivers, waterfalls, oceans, and etc. Some scientist believe that it came from a different planet.Water consists of two hydrogens and one oxygen. Water is the main ingredient in lotion.What it’s meant to do is to hydrate and moisturize the skin. Water actually makes up 95 percent of your brain, 82 percent of your blood, and 90 of your lungs.

Chemistry's Role

Petroleum and water are combined into a mixture. These two elements don’t combine. Water needs a charged element,since oil is uncharged it can’t combine. In order to fix this problem they add surfactant, which attracts both water and oil. Surfactant has two parts, which it allows it to bind with both water and oil.This process is also used on many other products. It is very important in the process of making lotion.

Background Research

First, you would combine the oil and water together. Then you would add the fragrance to the mixture. After that you would add colorants to the mixture. Place that into a jar and you have your lotion. Lotion can be made at home or in special laboratories. Lotion is meant to moisturize broken, cracked, and dried skin. Evidence shows that forms of lotions have been around since 3500 BC. Of course we have modernized lotion to what it is today.

Resources

http://illumin.usc.edu/174/the-chemistry-behind-moisturizers/

shows and explains the chemical reaction and what it does for your skin and body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotion

Ingredients are antibiotics,antiseptics,antifungals,corticosteroids,anti-acne agents,and moisturizing(calamine)

http://howisitmade.org/how-is-lotion-made/

how to make lotion

http://chemistscorner.com/how-do-skin-moisturizers-work/

how lotion works and what it does

http://www.prettycompact.com/body/body-lotions-moisturizers/history-of-moisturizer

the history of lotion

http://www.organicmakeup.ca/ca/PetroleumCosmetics.asp

describes what petroleum does to your skin

http://www.adventuresinenergy.org/Exploration-and-Production/index.html

how petroleum is found and where its at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_refining_processes

history of petroleum and how its made

http://www.livescience.com/33391-where-did-water-come-from.html

where water came from

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-health.htm

how important water is to the body and how much of it makes us

About the Author

Gabriela Reyes is a junior at Senior High School. She enjoys learning about marine life. She is wanting to attend San Diego University, to get master's degree in Marine Biology.