Chemistry in Daily Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Chemistry in Daily Life - Essay Example This world is made up of matter. We human beings are part of matter as we live in this world. Our body is made up of matter of different kinds. Matter is embedded in everything that contributes to protect our life - right from the food we have to the environment we live in. And, from what we eat to where we live, it is all related to chemistry. The human body thrives on organic compounds like proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc., and defends itself with enzymes such as catalase, reducing agents such as glutathione and cysteine, and we eat antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and polyphenol, etc.,) as our food to survive. Men in pre-historic age lived by using natural things / materials to a large extent. By the passage of time, man has now learnt to use natural resources to develop things for us as per his needs. Today, there is hardly any area in which Chemistry does not play a critical role in a man's daily life. Toiletries, cosmetic and beautifying products are some other items which are of use in our daily life. There are products like carbolic acids, toothpaste, mouth-fresheners, moisturizers, skin creams, face powders, deodorants, shampoos and soaps which sets off a day in our life. In all these products, lots of chemical ingredients are used. Carbolic acids are used as disinfectants to protect the bathroom and toilets from causing infections and keeping them clean. We start our day early morning by brushing our teeth. We use tooth paste to keep our teeth fresh, shiny and to protect them from decaying. We also use mouth fresheners (liquid) to keep bad breath - Halitosis in scientific term - at bay. Toothpaste includes water (H2O), Glycerol (CH2OH), Dibasic calcium phosphate (CaHPO4), Sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate, Carrageenan, Fluorides, etc., and some toothpastes even contain salt in their ingredients. Isn't it amazing that there are so many chemical ingredients involved in a small tube of toothpaste! Cosmetic items like moisturizers, skin creams, face powders, deodorants, lipsticks, shampoos and soaps include numerous ingredients like water, emulsifiers, preservatives, thickener, color and fragrance components. A bathing soap may contain chemical additives like caustic soda, citric acid, sodium chloride, mineral oil, scent, etc. Similarly, a detergent soap and powder and dishwasher soap or powder may contain many chemical compositions. Chemistry and food As we enter the kitchen, the main object that stands out is the stove. Most of the kitchen in this modern world is furnished with gas stoves. A gas stove mainly runs on cooking gas containing butane, ethane and propane and may also include methyl or ethyl mercaptans. Though not substantially used of late, stoves running on fuel like kerosene and gasoline had been of much use in the yesteryears and are still in use in remote places where there is scarcity of cooking gas. What is essential to lead a healthy life is food. Every food that is cooked includes chemicals which further multiply into more chemicals due to the reaction while cooking. For instance, rice contains carbohydrates and when it is cooked, it undergoes many chemical reactions, multiplying the available chemical elements into numerous other chemical