Chemistry in Everyday Life

Roads are one of the defining features of modern civilizations, believe it or not. To me and I think most others, the state of the roads in a country gives an idea of the level of development. It does not surprise then that chemistry features quite heavily in how we make roads.

A request from a listener, I explore in this episode the chemistry of bitumen and the physical properties needed for a good road.

This podcast is still not reactivated, but if you have a topic that you are interested in and do not mind an extended waiting time until I get round to it, drop me a mail under [email protected] .

Background Information

Polymer Chemistry, An Introduction Malcolm P. Stevens, 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press, 1999; ISBN 978-0-19-512444-6 pp. 70ff & 87ff

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

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt_(Geologie)

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

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt

Polymer-modified Bitumen

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262691923_Polymer_modified_bitumen_Optimization_and_selection

http://oxidizedbitumen.org/primer-bitumen/asphalt-polymer

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/3215/polymer-modified-bitumen-pmb

https://globecore.com/bitumen-modification-polymers/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780857090485500018

https://bitumen.globecore.com/use-polymer-bitumen-binders-road-construction

Glass Transition Temperature

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

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glas%C3%BCbergangstemperatur

Grundlagenvideo Asphalt-Straßenbau

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMeZy9ayV8

Intro Video to Bitumen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q39vKdNuJKQ

How much bitumen per kilometer of road

https://saharabizz.com/how-much-bitumen-used-in-road-construction-per-kilometre/

Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Polymer in Asphalt

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/styrene-butadiene-styrene

Video: Bier während der Arbeit? Welche Klischees über Straßenbauarbeiter stimmen? | Galileo | ProSieben

2:59 „Alle 15 Jahre muss ein Straßenbelag erneuert werden…“

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpQ7ohsN2pg

It takes a little bit more than 100mg of cyanide to kill a 75 kg human being. A little more than 100mg and the unfortunate victim will show the telltale signs of “bluish tones of oxygen deprivation mottle the skin.“

Cyanide Poisoning is as old as the usage of chemical compounds containing cyanide and this episode looks at the chemistry that happens in the body during a poisoning.

“This will be the last episode of Chemistry in Everyday Life for now. It was a huge amount of fun, but for the usual reasons, I have to suspend this beloved hobby project for an indefinite period of time. I would like to thank you all for listening. I enjoyed this experience immensely and I am proud of what I achieved. Take care everyone 😊”

The Podcast will remain online for the time being, but I will not add any new content.

Sources

Historical Background

· The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York, Chapter 3, 2010, D. Blum ISBN: 978-1594202438

Cyanide Poisoning and Cyanide Chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanide_poisoning

· https://www.thoughtco.com/overview-of-cyanide-poison-609287

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanide

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histotoxic_hypoxia

Oxidative Phosphorylation and Cytochrome C Oxidase

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytochrome_c_oxidase#Inhibition

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_phosphorylation

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transport_chain

Mitochondria

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrion

· https://www.thoughtco.com/mitochondria-defined-373367

Medical Treatment for Cyanide Poisoning

· https://www.drugs.com/cg/cyanide-poisoning.html

· https://www.healthline.com/health/cyanide-poisoning

Both starch and cellulose are made of glucose, one of the main sources of energy for the human body. Yet... we can digest starch that we find in things like potatoes or flour, but we cannot digest cellulose, a compound that is found in virtually every plant... Why?!?

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1 or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].

Sources

Chemistry of glucose linkages

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycosidic_bond

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomer

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysaccharide

Glycogen & Starch metabolism

· https://findanyanswer.com/can-glycogen-be-digested-by-humans

· Biochemistryby J. M. Berg et al. 9th Ed. 2019 ISBN 978-1-319-11465-7; p. 679ff

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starch

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycogen

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycogenolysis

Cellulose digestion

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruminant#Digestive_system_of_ruminants

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumen

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulase

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindgut_fermentation

Dear  Chemistry in Everyday Life Fans, I am off this month and as a  consequence, we are looking back on past episodes over the summer.  Today’s re-run is one of the first episodes that I ever recorded by the  name of “Protection from the Sun Pt. 1 – The Ozone Layer”.

I hope you all enjoy your summer. Stay safe and take care :)

Dear Chemistry in Everyday Life Fans, I am off this month and as a consequence, we are looking back on past episodes over the summer. Today’s re-run is one of the first episodes that I ever recorded by the name of “Protection from the Sun Pt. 1 – The Ozone Layer”.

The survey is still open and you can still submit an answer under https://forms.gle/LihJiny4jncB6h2A6. Let me know what episodes you like best and we shall replay them over the course of the summer.

I hope you all enjoy your summer. Stay safe and take care :)

Dear Chemistry in Everyday Life Fans, I am off this month and as a consequence, we are looking back on past episodes over the summer. I asked you what is your favourite episode and the result said it was the episode "Breathe in, Breathe Out - Oxygen Transfer in the Blood".

The survey is still open and you can still submit an answer under https://forms.gle/LihJiny4jncB6h2A6 . Let me know what episodes you like best and we shall replay them over the course of the summer.

I hope you all enjoy your summer. Stay safe and take care :)

PLEASE NOTE: During the month of August, I will repeat some previous episodes. If you want to influence which episodes will be played, you can click on the following link to part in a 1-question survey. Thanks! https://forms.gle/LihJiny4jncB6h2A6

How can you trace a molecule inside the body? How do you know, how a compound inside the body is metabolised? We will explore these questions in this episode.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1 or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].

Have you ever wondered how all these scientists come up with their findings in forensics, environmental science, pharmaceuticals, … cooking, cosmetics, and in soooo many more? Chemical purification and analysis lies at the heart of this question and I give you hereby my attempt at answering it. This is Part 2 of this 2-Part series looking at analysis.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].

Sources

Background knowledge

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_chemistry

Areas of application for analytical chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_test

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

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_science

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_analysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumental_chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_chemistry

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioanalysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_materials_analysis_methods

Qualitative Analysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_test

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame_test

Acid Test (Gold)

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_test_(gold)

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2koNEe6Kdyc

Iodine Starch test

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72zKnccyH-w

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine%E2%80%93starch_test

Quantitative Analysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_analysis_(chemistry)

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravimetric_analysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titration

Instrumental Analysis

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_spectrometry

Have you ever wondered how all these scientists come up with their findings in forensics, environmental science, pharmaceuticals, … cooking, cosmetics, and in soooo many more? Chemical purification and analysis lies at the heart of this question and I give you hereby my attempt at answering it. This is Part 1 of this 2-Part series looking at purification techniques.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].

Sources

Purification Techniques

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_purification_methods_in_chemistry

· Advanced Practical Organic Chemistry 2nd Edition, J. Leonard, B. Lygo, G. Procter, 1998, ISBN 0-7487-4071-6

DDT

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT

Microplastics

· https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/microplastics/

Centrifugation

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEXWd3_fM94

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAhBzUosvsU

Freeze-drying

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeze-drying

After talking about red blood cells two episodes ago, this episode looks at a different bodily fluid. One that helps in the digestion of fats. We are talking about bile. A liquid associated with bad experiences, but is essential to our survival.

If you would like to share feedback or have a suggestion for a topic, I can now be reached on twitter under @ChemistryinEve1or you can leave a comment on my website https://chemistryineverydaylife574446112.wordpress.com/. Alternatively, you can send an email to [email protected].

Sources

Bile

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle

Anatomy

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallbladder

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenum

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas

Bile Composition

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallens%C3%A4uren

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_acid

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkalische_Phosphatase

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_phosphatase

· https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecithine

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecithin

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipase

Mixing oil and water

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulsion

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93sPsWtlDB8

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvKar6t1LY

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC_czAL24zY

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micelle

Fats

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triglyceride

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoglyceride

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phospholipid

Human pancreatic lipase

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_lipase_family#Human_pancreatic_lipase

How fats are used by the body

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipid_metabolism

· https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_metabolism