Chemistry in Daily Life and Examples
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Your feelings like love and jealousy arise because chemical messengers in your brain work together, creating the incredible experience of emotions.
- Cutting an onion triggers a chemical reaction that releases gases, which irritate your eyes and make you cry.
- Soap cleans your hands by using chemistry to break down oils and dirt, making them easy to wash away.
Chemistry is everywhere—from the foods we eat to the air we breathe, shaping everyday life in countless ways. Here’s a peek into everyday chemistry through common chemistry examples you encounter around the house daily.
1. Elements in the Human Body
Elements combine to form chemical compounds, which make up the human body’s complex structure. While water is made of hydrogen and oxygen, did you know how these elements play a vital role in your body’s functions?
2. Chemistry of Love
Chemistry of Love involves neurotransmitters acting as chemical messengers, explaining the science behind strong emotions. Love and jealousy are both influenced by chemistry, revealing how infatuation drives powerful feelings.
3. Why Onions Make You Cry
Why do onions sitting harmlessly on your kitchen counter cause such a fuss when sliced? Yet, when you cut an onion, its chemical irritants cause tears to flow unexpectedly. What makes onions cause burning and irritation to your eyes as you cut them? Everyday chemistry provides the science behind the culprit causing those tears.
4. Why Ice Floats
Why does ice float, and what would happen if it sank in our world? For lakes, freezing from the bottom would drastically alter aquatic life and ecosystems. Chemistry offers the explanation for why certain substances like ice float on water.
5. How Soap Cleans
How soap’s history reveals the early chemical discoveries behind soap making. You might be surprised to learn early soap involved mixing animal fat with ashes. How can something nasty like grease become cleaner through the magic of chemistry? The soap molecules latch onto grease and grime, lifting them away through a chemical process.
6. How Sunscreen Works
How sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and lowers the risk of skin cancer by blocking ultraviolet rays. Do you know how sunscreen’s SPF rating protects you and how the product actually works?
7. Why Baking Powder and Baking Soda Make Foods Rise
Why using baking powder and baking soda interchangeably can affect your baked goods. Chemistry helps you understand when and how to substitute baking ingredients correctly.
8. Does Some Fruit Ruin Gelatin?
Does adding fresh fruit to gelatin affect the polymer structure of Jell-O? Some natural chemicals can inhibit the polymer formation needed for gelatin to set properly. Simply put, adding certain fruits can ruin Jell-O’s setting ability. Can you name the key elements involved in the chemical reactions of soap?
9. Can Bottled Water Go Bad?
Can food spoil because chemical reactions break down food molecules over time? Fats become rancid through chemical changes that alter their smell and taste. Bacteria growing on food can make you sick if not properly managed. What hidden fats might fat-free products still contain? Can bottled water actually go bad or expire over time?
10. Is It OK to Use Laundry Detergent in the Dishwasher?
Is understanding chemistry essential when choosing safe household chemicals like laundry detergent or dishwasher soap? While some think laundry detergents are interchangeable, the washing machine type matters for best results.
