Chemistry in Daily Life

Courses after B Sc Chemistry

Human bodies are also made of chemicals and everything around are also made of chemicals. What we see, hear, smell all involve chemistry or from chemical reactions. Many of the changes we see in the world around us are known as Chemistry. Starting from any object and its colour everything is based on reflection of lights and its reaction on the wavelengths. Plenty of such experiments and its repercussions are made in the laboratory that sometimes amuses the students. While pursuing courses after B.Sc (Chemistry) in higher studies these different kinds of reactions and its compositions are learnt.

Composition of human body

Carbon and Oxygen are two essential elements of the human body is a combination of carbon and oxygen. The other elements which are present in your body are nitrogen, phosphorous, hydrogen, oxygen, calcium, potassium, sulfur, magnesium and many more.

Sunscreen working

Sunscreen combines organic and inorganic chemicals to filter the light from the sun so that less of it reaches the deeper layers of your skin. The reflective particles in sunscreen usually consist of zinc oxide or titanium oxide.

Blue sky

An object changes its colour because of the light it reflects or passes through it. The white light from the sun comes out with proper wavelength but when it goes through different mediums or impacts on different objects some of its wavelengths are absorbed and some are reflected. Sky is blue because of change of reaction of white sunlight rays that changes colour because of shorter or frequent of change of wavelengths. This effect is very strong when light passes through it.

Pressure cooker cooks faster

Pressure cooker is sealed when its lid is closed completely. When we heat the water inside the cooker gets boiled and the generated steam cannot come out, which results a buildup of pressure. The pressure raises the temperature level inside the cooker and hence the food cooked faster.

Floating ice on water

Ice has less density than water. The quantum of ice which replaces the water while floating on water is lighter than the water replaced. This helps the ice float on the water.

Coffee drives sleep away

Coffee keeps us awake because of the presence of adenosine in brain. It binds to certain receptors and slows down the nerve cell activity when sleep is signaled.

Colorful vegetable

Vegetables and fruits are differently coloured due to the presence of special kinds of chemical compound named carotenoids. These compounds have a component which is called chromophore which absorbs and gives off particular wavelengths of light. These different wavelengths are generating the colour that we can see.

How soap works

Soap is formed by molecules with a head which tends to mix up with water easily and a long chain of particles that repulse it. When soap is blended with water the long hydrophobic chains of its molecules join the oil particles while the hydrophilic heads go into the water. An Emulsion of oil in water is then formed. This means that the oil particles become suspended in the water and are liberated from the cloth. With the rinsing the emulsion is taken away.

Cutting of onion brings tears

When we cut onion the strong smell in the onion brings our tears out. This happens due the presence of sulfur in its cells which break after the onions are cut or chopped off. The sulfur gets mixed with the moisture in our eyes and irritates those to bring tears out.

Baking power makes food rise

The soda inside the power reacts with the enzymes inside the starch contents in the food. This helps form air with its fungal reactions that splits up the food and thus make it rise.

Food preservatives

In the ingredients list of pickles or jam a lot of chemicals can be seen. These chemicals are called preservatives which delay the formation and growth of microorganisms in foods. The food preservatives not only prohibit growth of bacteria or fungi but also hinder the oxidation of fats which is also responsible for making the food rancid. Most common preservatives are sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, calcium sorbate etc.

Digestion of food

There is a chemical reaction inside our stomach as soon as we take food. It all starts from our mouth which ejects saliva. It contains enzyme amylase which ultimately breaks down the carbohydrates and with the hydrochloric acid the liver releases bile during digestion.

This enlightens everyday chemistry.