Chemistry and Society - Essay Example

Chemistry and Society Question One Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is a medicine that is mainly used totreat fever, pain and inflammations (King and Brucker, 2010). The medicine is also used at long-term to assist in preventing strokes, heart attacks and blood clots. The medicine is given to people who are at a high risk of developing blood clots (Kessel and Ben-Tal, 2010). An immediate low dose of aspirin is prescribed to a person to prevent him from the risk of getting another heart attack, or the death of the cardiac tissue (Tang, 2008). Aspirin also has the capability of stopping the binding of platelets together, which is an antiplatelet effect. The antiplatelet effect usually prevents a patch over blood vessels walls that are damaged. The drug also prevents colorectal cancer (Levin, Rozen, Spann & Young, 2005). Aspirin is used effectively for various medications; however it also has some side effects when used. Some of the main side effects of using aspirin are stomach bleeding, gastrointestinal ulcers and ring in the ears. These side effects are experienced when a person takes a high dose of aspirin. Even though daily aspirin can assist in preventing stroke related to a blood clot, it also increases the risk of bleeding stroke (Snow, 2004). In adolescents and in children, aspirin is not recommended for viral illness or flu-like symptoms, mainly because of the risk of Reyes syndrome (Turkington & Ashby, 2007). In the model list of the WHO on essential medicine, aspirin is the most important basic medication needed in a basic health system (Youngscientistcomau, 2015). In the ancient time, spiraea and willow bark plant extract of which the active ingredient was salicylic acid had been used to ease pain, headaches and fevers. In the year 1763, Edward Stone isolated the active element of aspirin when he discovered salicylic acid. Charles Frederic Gerhardt who was a French chemist prepared the first acetylsalicylic acid in the year 1853. During Charles Frederic Gerhardts work, on the property and synthesis of different acid anhydrides, Charles Frederic mixed acetyl chloride with a sodium salt (Edubillacom, 2015). After a vigorous reaction, the resulting melt was then solidified, and the compound obtained was named salicylic-acetic anhydride. In the year 1859, von Gilm obtained acetylsalicylic acid through the reaction of acetyl chloride and salicylic acid (Watson, 2011). In the year 1897, Bayer AG chemists produced a version of synthetically altered salicin. The product was derived from Filipendula ulmaria species which had a less digestive upset as compared to the pure salicylic acid. Bayer AG named the new drug Aspirin (May & Cotton, 2014). By the year 1899, the drug was sold around the world (SchröR, 2009). The drug became popularly known due to its effectiveness in the first half of the 20th century. Question Two Synthetic fabrics Synthetic fabrics are from synthetic polymers which are created using polymerization of different chemical inputs. Polymerization refers to the process of combining various smaller molecules to form larger molecules. The large molecule formed is called polymer. The polymers used for synthetic fibre are from the intermediates which are from the crude oil. In the production of synthetic fibre, a catalyst is also needed. The main intermediates are P-Xylene, ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid and acrylonitrile. The main catalysts are antimony oxide, cobalt and manganese. The building block for synthetic fibre is polymers (Wordpresscom, 2010). Plastics The crude oil first undergoes a fractional distillation process. One of the fractions called naphtha is the important element for the production of plastic. The two main processes that are used for the production for plastic are polycondensation and polymerization. The two processes require a specific catalyst. In the reaction of a polymerization, propylene and ethylene are linked together to produce long polymers chain. Plastics exist in various types. Furthermore, they can be grouped into two main polymer families. These families include the thermoplastic and the thermosets (Plasticseuropeorg, 2015). Cleaning agents Soap is one of the cleaning agents made from a chemical reaction that happens when fatty acids combine with sodium hydroxide of potassium hydroxide. The role of sodium hydroxide is to act as an emulsifier which that bonds water molecules with fatty acids through generating heat. This process is saponification. Various soaping oil has various composition of fatty acids. These fatty acids provide the final finished soap with the important characteristic. Some of the most common fatty acids found in soaping oil include: Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Ricinoleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid (Naturesgardencandlescom, 2015). Cosmetics In most of the cosmetic products, mineral oil and petroleum are the basic ingredients. Both petroleum and mineral oil originate form the fossils. Some of the cosmetic products like shampoos contain aromatic hydrocarbons. A good number of these aromas are from the petroleum. One of the most chemical additives that contain moisture in cosmetics is propylene glycol which is also a derivative of petroleum. Some of the products that list propylene glycol as an ingredient includes: anti-freeze, conditioner, laundry detergent, paint, and shampoo (Organicmakeupca, 2015). Fuels When the oil is in its natural state, it has very limited uses. For oil to have a variety of uses, it needs to be refined. Refining of the oil means boiling the oil. When the oil is being boiled, the temperature rises and different compounds contained in the oil starts to boil. At every point that a compound starts to boil, that compound is taken out. Some of the fuels that are known are petroleum and gasoline. Petroleum gas is usually obtained at 1040F while, on the other hand, the compound gasoline is obtained at 7520F. The temperature keeps on rising, and the compounds are taken out as soon as they start to boil. This refining process is fractional distillation (Nmogaorg, 2015). Question Three Antimicrobial coatings for a long-term effect for surfaces The antimicrobial coating is composed of copper and silver which releases germicidal metal ions gradually into the environment. Both copper and silver are incorporated in the coating. Even though the metal colloids sizes are of a few nanometers, their main ratio of size to the surface area produces a long term effect that is distinctive. The consumption of metal to metal ions is then very slow that the coating can last for many years. The long-term effect of the coating will also be increased by the abrasion resistant that is high (Alphagalileoorg, 2015). Killer paper for next-generation food packaging Killer paper for the next-generation food packaging is made by the deposition of silver nanoparticles on the papers surface. The deposition is usually done by the using the ultrasound or the use of sound waves that are of high frequency. The coated paper will be of potential antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. Coil. S. aureus and E. Coil are the two main causes of bacterial food poisoning. The silver nanoparticles deposition can kill all the bacteria in a span of three hours. The capability of the packaging material can serve as a packaging material for promoting longer shelf life (Acsorg, 2015). Gold nanoparticles detect heart attacks early KurtH. Becker and WeiDong Zhu are leading a research in the development of a heart attack detector. The two are respectable engineers, who have extensive knowledge in the field of Applied Physics. Their intention is to come up with a new colloidal gold strip. The new strip has the capability of utilising microplasma-generated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The new strip also has the capability to show much higher detection sensitivity when compared to the conventional test strips. The basis of the new cTn-I is on the particular immune-chemical reaction between the antibody and the antigen on immunochromatographic test strips using AuNPS. When compared to the AuNPs produced by the traditional chemical method, the nanoparticles gold surface attracts more antibodies. The surface of the gold nanoparticles is usually generated by the microplasma-induced liquid chemical process. The attracted antibodies results to a significantly higher detection sensitivity (Nyuedu, 2015). Nanoparticles for clean drinking water The ammonia production majorly depends on the physical structure of the catalyst and the method that is used to prepare the palladium. The use of nanometre-sized colloidal particles was used because their dimension can be easily controlled. These particles are usually fixed to the surface to prevent them from reaching the main water supply. Its vital to ensure that they do not clump together. Stabilizers like polyvinyl alcohol are usually added to ensure that nanometre-sized colloidal particles do not clump together. However, the added stabilizers tend to palladium particle surface, therefore, reducing their effectiveness as a catalyst. Additional treatment is introduced to expose the surface of the catalyst. The additional treatment has resulted in palladium nanoparticles that can catalyze the conversion to nitrogen while producing limited ammonia (Sciencedailycom, 2015). Question Four An iron ore consists of the iron element combined with other elements. Of other elements that are combined with the iron, the element is oxygen. During smelting of the iron ore, the iron ore is heated with carbon. The main purpose of carbon is to combine with oxygen and carry it away therefore leaving iron. The used carbon was originally obtained from charcoal which was derived from woods. However, in the early 1700s most of the furnaces started using coke which was derived from coal. The high temperature of the blast furnaces can melt the iron which is then drained and poured into moulds to form bars knows as ingots (Gridclubcom, 2015). Even though iron rusts easily, it is one of the metals that are the most important. Iron contributes to about 90% of all the refined metals that are being used in the world. Iron is mostly used to manufacture steel which is majorly used in civil engineering and in the manufacturing industry. Steels exist in different forms and are of different uses and properties. Ordinary carbon steel is mainly an alloy of Carbon with iron. This type of ordinary carbon steel is available from 0.1% for mild steel to 2% for high carbon steel. The ordinary carbon steel is also composed of a few other elements. Alloy steel is carbon steel composed of other additives which include chromium, tungsten, nickel, vanadium and manganese. The alloys of the carbon steel are stronger and tougher when compared to carbon steel. These alloys widely applied in various areas which include electricity pylons, cutting tools, bridges, a bicycle chain and rifle barrels. Stainless steels are metals that are very resistant to corrosion. Its composition is about 10.5% chromium. In enhancing the workability and strength of stainless steel, other metals such as molybdenum, copper, nickel and titanium are added. Stainless steel is commonly used in bearing, surgical instruments, architecture, cutlery, and jewellery. Cast iron is composed of about 3-5% carbon. Cast iron is majorly used for pumps, pipes and valves. Even though it is not as tough as steel, it is much cheaper. Magnets can also be made of iron and its compounds and alloys. Iron can also be used as a catalyst. Iron catalyst is mainly used in the Haber process in the production of ammonia. Iron catalyst is also used in the Fischer- Tropsch process for converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid fuels. Iron does not only play a very important role in the industry but also in the human life. Iron is an essential element in all forms of life, and it is non-toxic. An average human contains about four grams of iron. A lot of the iron contained by human is in haemoglobin, in the blood. The main purpose of haemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the body cells. The body cells need oxygen for tissue respiration. Human needs about 10-18 milligrams of iron each day. Lack of iron in the body causes the development of anaemia. Iron is contained in foods such as brewers yeast, cocoa, kidney, liquorice, liver and molasses (Rscorg, 2015). Bibliography ACSORG. 2015. Acsorg. [Online]. [3 October 2015]. 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[5 October 2015]. Available from: http://www.youngscientist.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ninja- forms/clrlreport.pdf Read More