Chemistry Connections

Chemistry Connections Episode #4  

Welcome to Chemistry Connections, our names are Shaan and Maharsh and we are your hosts for episode #4 called Chemistry of Nitrous in Engines Today we will be discussing how nitrous works to increase power in engines

Segment 1: Introduction to Nitrous Oxide Engines

• Nitrous oxide is used in cars to help them go faster and get more power out of their engines
• Commonly referred to as NOS 
• It is usually stored in the form of a liquid inside a cylinder
• Engines are powered by fuel and the amount of air that can be compressed
• More air = more power
• Nitrous Oxide is a gas injected into the engine which breaks down into Oxygen and nitrogen
• The oxygen molecule is then used in the combustion process of the engine
• Nitrous is heavy and needed in high capacity to power an an engine so that's why you see drivers use the nitrous for a short amount of time
• There are 2 main types of nitrous systems, a wet and a dry system
• In a dry nitrous system, nitrous oxide is added directly into the fuel-injector and causes an increase in oxygen levels
• In a wet system, N2O is added to the fuel using a special nozzle that regulates the amount of nitrous in the fuel
• The wet nitrous system is more prone to backfires, or flames shooting out of the exhaust. 

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind N2O Engines

Chem topic 1: Combustion rxn/Exothermic rxn

• Air is compressed and ignited in an engine, which drives a piston and powers the car
• N2O allows for more oxygen to enter the engine, this increases the amount of fuel that can be let in
• More oxygen = more fuel = more power 
• As the nitrous oxide decomposes and is injected, it releases nitrogen and oxygen into the engine
• This means that more oxygen is present to enter the engine and become part of the combustion reaction

Chem topic 2: bonds breaking/bond strength

• Energy is required to break apart bonds
• The O atom in the N2O has a strong bond to the N2 
• Lots of heat is required to break these bonds
• More heat is released when the bonds are broken
• This means that the reaction is exothermic
• The molecule N2O is a polar molecule that has covalent bonds

Chem topic 3: redox rxn/nitrous oxide is an oxidizing agent 

• Nitrous is an oxidizing agent
• This means that it is reduced
• Gains electrons
• The reaction that takes place in the engine is a redox reaction
• This means that electrons are transferred from one particle to another
• The decomposition of nitrous oxide is a redox reaction and the combustion reaction is also a redox reaction

Segment 3: Personal Connections

• We both watched all the Fast and the Furious movies and were interested on how nitrous increases a cars top speed
• Nitrous is an important part of the franchise as it allows the racers to use it to their advantage to beat the competition
• This topic will allow us to better understand the chemistry behind some of our favorite movies and moments from TV
• Understanding how nitrous impacts the engine, and what makes it work, may help us to better understand certain aspects of our own cars
• It's important to us because it allows us to use what we learned in chemistry and apply it to real life

Thank you for listening to this episode of Chemistry Connections. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. 

Sources:

https://www.carpart.com.au/blog/educational/how-does-nitro-boost-nitrous-oxide-work-in-cars#:~:text=The%20Chemistry%20behind%20Nitro%20Boost,average%2C%20the%20power%20output%20increases.&text=Air%20allows%20a%2012%25%20lower,to%20that%20of%20nitrous%20oxide. 

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/engineering-explained-how-nos-works/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide#Internal_combustion_engine 

https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics#:~:text=In%20a%20spark%20ignition%20engine,piston%20during%20the%20power%20stroke. 

Music Credits

Warm Nights by @LakeyInspired

Chemistry ConnectionsEpisode #3  

Welcome to Chemistry Connections, my name is Mea Allex and I am your host for episode #3 called The Chemistry of Our Bonds with Dogs. Today I will be discussing the science behind why we form attachments to dogs with a focus on the neurotransmitter and hormone known as oxytocin.

Segment 1: Introduction to the Molecule Oxytocin

The molecule oxytocin functions as both a hormone and neurotransmitter, and it is associated with feelings of happiness and affection. It is also known as the love hormone, and is frequently seen in both romantic and parental relationships.

However, it is also a large reason why we feel attached to our dogs. Petting our dogs, gazing at them, or even thinking about them releases oxytocin, leading to feelings of attachment.  

For dogs, oxytocin functions similarly; dogs with higher levels of oxytocin tend to be more affectionate and less aggressive. As our dogs are more loving towards us, our oxytocin levels also increase in a positive feedback loop that contributes to a strong bond between the caregiver and animal.

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind The Release of Oxytocin and How it Pertains to our Dogs.

Oxytocin is represented by the molecular formula C43H66N12O12S2. It is bonded covalently, meaning that the atoms share electrons. In addition to this, oxytocin molecules experience London Dispersion(LD) and dipole-dipole intermolecular forces, specifically including hydrogen bonds. Due to the strength of the hydrogen bonds between molecules, oxytocin is soluble in many liquids, including water.

Bringing it back to the topic of animals, just thinking about our dogs raises oxytocin levels. These levels increase even more through eye contact and physical contact with our dogs. So, when we gaze at a puppy and our brain recognizes we’re looking at something adorable, a signal is sent to release oxytocin.

Specifically, to release oxytocin, it must be transported from the cell body to the axon terminal and then released from there. This occurs in the hypothalamus, after the trigger of seeing, petting, or thinking about a dog.

The process begins when the membrane potential is increased, opening voltage-gated ion channels and flooding that portion of the membrane with positively charged cations. This depolarizes that portion of the membrane. In order to restore its original charge, separate voltage-gated ion channels open and cations are released from that section of the membrane.

However, releasing the cations sends them to another area of the membrane, depolarizing that section. This cycle continues until oxytocin has been successfully transported through the membrane and released, at which point the ion channels close and the oxytocin stops being released. This is virtually instantaneous, and after it is completed, we feel the effects of love and attachment to the dog.   

The reason for WHY we release oxytocin upon sighting of a dog is due to their physical appearance. With their large head and eyes combined with a small mouth and nose, as well as chubby cheeks, the physicality of dogs triggers the human instinct to be as caring and protective of them as we would a young child. What is the hormone that triggers those nurturing instincts? Oxytocin.

Segment 3: Personal Connections

This exploration was especially interesting for me because I have two dogs that I adore, and I wanted to know the science behind why we as humans feel the way we do about dogs. Additionally, a significant portion of the world has at least one dog in their household, so it’s a very relevant topic that I believe many people would be interested in learning more about.  

I also have a fascination with analyzing our emotions scientifically, so it was intriguing to answer the question of what happens when we see something adorable and feel attachment to it on a molecular and biological level. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Chemistry Connections. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. 

Sources:

https://www.neuroscientificallychallenged.com/glossary/voltage-gated-ion-channel

https://www.neuroscientificallychallenged.com/glossary/membrane-potential

https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Book%3A_Anatomy_and_Physiology_(Boundless)/10%3A_Overview_of_the_Nervous_System/10.5%3A_Neurophysiology/10.5B%3A_Ion_Channels

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/organ-systems/neural-synapses/v/neurotransmitter-release

https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chnt1.html

https://www.britannica.com/science/neurotransmitter-release

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/human-biology/neuron-nervous-system/a/depolarization-hyperpolarization-and-action-potentials

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/oxytocin

https://thebark.com/content/oxytocin-chemistry-between-people-and-dogs-real

https://academic.oup.com/ilarjournal/article/43/1/4/846604

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320170

Music Credits

Warm Nights by @LakeyInspired 

Chemistry ConnectionsEpisode #2

Welcome to Chemistry Connections, my name is EMILY GREENBERG and I am your host for episode #2 called The chemistry behind forensics. Today I will be discussing the chemistry behind forensic science and crime scene investigation.

Segment 1: Introduction to forensics

Forensic science is the tests and techniques used in the detection of crime. Forensic scientists use the scientific method to solve crimes.

They collect data and evidence from crime scenes and analyze it to try to figure out the manner and the perpetrator of a crime. 

Analysis of blood or fingerprints left at a crime scene are very important in identifying a victim or a suspect. Clothing fibers, ink, ash, and much more can also be used in forensics to detect and solve crimes.

Forensic science is one of the most critical aspects of the criminal justice system because it involves hard evidence and can be proven.

Forensics are so important because they can help rule out manners of death and can find suspects for different crimes.

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind forensics

Chemistry is one of the most important aspects of forensics. The following methods are the most important chemical experiments that are used in forensics.

Chromatography: This is a process where chemists use heat to separate mixtures into different contents so they can determine the individual components of a mixture. There are many different types of chromatography which will be described in this episode. 

TLC (thin layer chromatography) is a less complex type of chromatography. 

• Used to analyze inks and dyes of fibers left at a crime scene and can help a forensic scientist match a fiber to a specific company if differences between fibers are very small

Gas Chromatography is used for volatile liquids

• Often used to separate and analyze blood left at a crime scene. This can determine if the victim or suspect had alcohol or drugs in their system.
• Can be used to investigate cases of arson and can detect if an accelerant is used. This can be used to see whether a fire was intentional or not 
• Mass spectrometry is used as a detector by detecting the concentration of the substance 

HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography) extracts individual components from a solution

• HPLC is used for nonvolatile mixtures
• A common detector for this type of chromatography is called an ultraviolet visible spectrometer 
• This is used for drug analysis because most pharmaceuticals have UV absorbance
• Alain Baxter Case

Spectroscopy: field of chemistry that investigates spectrums created when matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation.

Substances will have certain transmittance spectrums which allows the substances to be identified

Certain types of spectroscopy are nondestructive and will be used before other destructive methods

FTIR is one of the main types of spectroscopy

• infrared radiation is used to examine skin or clothing of a suspect in order to find evidence like gunpowder residue. 
• When the spectra of the unknown substance is created, a database can match the unknown spectra to a known spectra

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

• Involves heating the substance in order to break individual bonds 
• Radiation in the form of light is then passed through the sample forcing the atoms to jump to a higher energy state

When collecting fingerprints, investigators use an alternate light source to find latent (invisible) fingerprints 

SWGDRUG (Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs) has guidelines for forensic chemists regarding the identification of unknown substances

Segment 3: Personal Connections

This topic is so important because it helps solve crimes and brings justice to criminals and victims. Forensic sciences have come a long way, and we can discover so many things about a crime just by looking at small particles left at a crime scene. I got into forensic science because I listened to True Crime podcasts, which inspired me to research this topic to discover the science behind crime investigation. I hope to one day become a forensic scientist, which is why I enjoyed researching this topic so much.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Chemistry Connections. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. 

Sources:

https://www.theclassroom.com/how-does-chemistry-relate-to-forensic-science-12235684.html 

https://www.azolifesciences.com/article/Analytical-Chemistry-in-Forensic-Science.aspx 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_chemistry 

https://www.justice.gov/olp/forensic-science 

https://www.atascientific.com.au/spectrometry/ 

https://www.azolifesciences.com/article/Chromatography-in-Forensic-Science.aspx 

https://aboutforensics.co.uk/chromatography/ 

http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/prints/how.html 

Music Credits

Warm Nights by @LakeyInspired

Chemistry ConnectionsEpisode #1

Welcome to Chemistry Connections, we are Joe Jacobs and Kate Jackson and we are your hosts for episode #1 called The Chemistry of Beignets. Today we will be explaining the chemical process behind making beignets. 

Segment 1: Introduction to Beignets

French settlers brought beignets with them as they migrated to the eastern coast of Canada in the 17th century. These settlers were then forced by the British to move and many settled in Louisiana. These settlers brought their cuisine, as well as their language, with them as they migrated south. Today, beignets are most associated with the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.

 Beignets are a type of doughnut and usually covered in powdered sugar. The process of making beignets is somewhat intensive. It begins with making a dough and then allowing the dough to sit for 2 to 24 hours. Then the beignets are fried in oil and then covered with powdered sugar. 

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind Rising, Texture, and Flavour in Beignets

So when we are making the dough, yeast and leavening agents are the foundation of baking. Without these types of ingredients, you wouldn’t be able to have bread or beignets, but you would sort of get like bricks of flour.

Leavening agents, or ingredients that make the beignets or whatever you’re making rise, participate in chemical reactions during various steps of the baking process. Yeast, for example, transforms any sugars in the dough into carbon dioxide gas and ethanol which is a type of alcohol. The carbon dioxide that is trapped in the dough expands during the rising and resting process which makes the dough increase in volume, and the alcohol produced by this fermentation reaction evaporates during the frying process. I wanted to point out that yeast is a living organism. You have to activate the yeast when you make the beignets and make sure to keep the dough at a warm room temperature in order to make the yeast work quickly, but not too quickly to increase the yeast’s sensitivity to acids in the dough and slow down the fermentation reaction. Essentially, fermentation is primarily responsible for the holes and the flavour of bread. Flavor inside the bread comes from the alcohol and other compounds produced through fermentation. Another notable reaction that occurs in the dough is aerobic respiration. This occurs in the mitochondria of the yeast cells and performs until the limiting reagent, diatomic oxygen, is used up. Then fermentation occurs, also known as anaerobic respiration. Both reactions produce carbon dioxide so they both contribute to the rise of the beignets.

Equation for fermentation: C6H12O6 (glucose) 2C2H5OH (ethanol) +2CO2 (carbon dioxide)

Equation for respiration: C6H12O6(glucose) + 6O2 (oxygen) 6CO2 (carbon dioxide)+ 6H2O (water) 

In addition to these important chemical processes, one thing I found is that kneading the beignet dough adds air into the dough and speeds up the respiration process. This leads to a faster rise but less flavor because ethanol is responsible for flavour and increasing O2 in the dough only speeds up the respiration reaction. We are gonna make some beignets this weekend and for ours we will be doing a slow rise with no kneading, and this is just so that we can get the most flavor from the dough and also kenading is annoying. Kneading also develops gluten strands in the dough which can make the beignets tough which is the opposite of what we want.

For a little bit more chemistry, if we were to knead the dough, O2 would be added to the dough which would increase the rate of the respiration reaction. This is because there are many molecules of glucose in the dough and the addition of O2 molecules leads to increasing collisions between glucose and oxygen. More collisions leads to a higher rate of product formations because of a higher chance of molecules colliding with sufficient energy and the required positioning. So those are some of the important things that happen behind the scenes, and Kate is gonna talk a little bit about what happens when you actually fry the dough to make the beignets.

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind Caramelization

Once the dough for the beignets is ready, they are fried in oil until they are golden brown and puffed up. The golden brown aspect of the beignets will be achieved through a process called caramelization as well as the Maillard reaction. 

When caramelization occurs, the maltose carbohydrate molecules, which are two glucose molecules, in the dough start to break down and rearrange themselves under heat. The process of caramelization is very complex. As the sugar appears to melt, it is actually undergoing several intricate chemical reactions. 

First, sucrose inversion occurs which means sucrose breaks down into glucose and fructose. This is a hydrolysis reaction, which means that water is used to break chemical bonds. In this case, the intramolecular bond between the glucose and fructose, specifically a covalent bond called the glycosidic linkage which holds the two molecules together.Condensation occurs, where the sugars lose water and react with each other, forming difructose-anhydride. Further dehydration occurs. Molecules fragment and polymerize, producing the characteristic caramel color and browned sugar flavor associated with the process. The three main products from sucrose caramelization are the dehydration product caramelan and two polymers, carmelen and caramelin

Reaction: C12H22O11(sucrose)+ H2O C6H12O6 (fructose) + C6H12O6 (glucose)

Caramelization is a separate chemical reaction from the Maillard reaction, which is the browning process, and takes place afterwards at a higher temperature. The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor. Foods that contain both carbohydrates and proteins brown from a combination of caramelisation and the Maillard reaction

Segment 3: Personal Connections

We wanted to talk about beignets because Joe and I both like to bake and find that making new foods and exploring new recipes are fun to do together. Also, we love the Princess and the Frog and Tiana makes amazing beignets in the movie. Joe is also going to Tulane next year which is in New Orleans and close to the French Quarter, so he has had beignets a few times. 

I am super excited to be going to New Orleans this fall, and I feel like beignets are such a signature part of being there. They represent a mixture of different cultures and when I visited back in February this year I loved the beignets I had at Cafe du Monde so much. So I guess I just wanted to learn a little bit more about them. And hopefully when Kate and I make some this weekend they turn out just as well.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Chemistry Connections. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com.

Sources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/beignets/#:~:text=Beignets%20are%20the%20official%20state%20doughnut%20of%20Louisiana.&text=French%20settlers%20brought%20beignets%20with,region%20a%20hundred%20years%20later.

https://sciencing.com/chemical-reactions-involved-baking-cake-7173041.html

https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/academy/ovens-cooking/scientific-baking-your-guide-to-chemical-reactions-in-cooking/

https://bakerbynature.com/new-orleans-style-beignets/

https://breadscience.weebly.com/fermentation.html 

https://ingeniumcanada.org/sites/default/files/2019-01/education-properties-of-and-changes-in-matter-bread-eak.pdf 

https://www.seriouseats.com/what-is-maillard-reaction-cooking-science 

http://home.sandiego.edu/~josephprovost/Sample%20Guided%20Inquiry%20Browning%20Reactions.pdf

https://sciencenotes.org/carmelization-chemistry-why-sugar-turns-brown/

https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Purdue/Purdue%3A_Chem_26200%3A_Organic_Chemistry_II_(Wenthold)/Chapter_22._Carbohydrates/22.08%3A_Disaccharides/22.08.1%3A_Sucrose_vs_High-Fructose_Corn_Syrup/Sucrose

https://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/51168/delicious-bread-thanks-cellular-respiration 

Music Credits

Warm Nights by @LakeyInspired 

Chemistry ConnectionsEpisode #0  

Welcome to Chemistry Connections, my name is Nick Johnson and I am your host for episode 0 called Welcome to Chemistry Connections. Today I’ll be talking about Chemistry Connections, where it came from, and what listeners can expect.  

Segment 1: Introduction to the history of Chemistry Connections

I teach AP chemistry at hvchs and this podcast is part of a class project that I've been doing for a long time.

Each episode is completely student researched, recorded, and edited.

This podcast is all about highlighting the chemistry that can be used to explain and understand our lives, the universe and almost everything.  

Literally pick a topic and I can guarantee there is some chemistry at work there 

Traditionally has been a research paper, but now updating to accommodate changing world and hvspn.com

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind “Chemistry Connections

Some possible topics you’ll hear about include the chemistry behind art, history, food, products, business, biology, and physics, etc.

Segment 3: Personal Connections

This is what attracted me to teaching chemistry and it’s how I like to end my ap chemistry course. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Chemistry Connections. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. 

Sources:

None

Music Credits

Warm Nights by @LakeyInspired