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What is gum? And what happens when you swallow it?
#200
In this episode Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating world of chewing gum. They start by discussing awkward combinations of food and gum, leading to an exploration of what gum is made of. The conversation covers the basics of gum composition, including the roles of sugar, flavor, and especially the gum base, which itself is made of polymers. They explain why gum doesn't dissolve in saliva and how flavors are eventually lost as they are absorbed by saliva. The hosts also talk about the environmental impact of gum and spotlight an innovative company that recycles used gum into new products. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes related to gum, enhancing the scientific discussion with engaging memories.
00:00 The Gum and Chocolate Dilemma
00:40 The Mystery of Natural vs. Unnatural Gum
01:07 Mint Preferences and Gum Curiosities
02:22 Introduction to the Chemistry of Gum
03:31 Podcast Introduction and Community Shoutouts
05:54 Teaching Experiences and Family Connections
08:50 Deep Dive into Gum Chemistry
22:13 The Science Behind Gum Flavor
23:08 Sugar-Free Gum and Flavor Retention
23:42 The Role of Chemists in Gum Production
24:37 Explaining Gum Chemistry
26:18 The Structure and Properties of Gum
29:47 Natural vs. Synthetic Gum
31:50 Recycling Gum: Gumdrop Limited
34:34 Gum in Our Digestive System
36:35 Gum-Related Memories
44:30 Conclusion and Listener Questions
References from this episode:
https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i14/Recycling-used-gum-cycling-through.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=CEN&hootPostID=9a9a878b967d568f13944bd2bd2fa649
https://gumdropltd.com/
https://cen.acs.org/articles/85/i32/Chewing-Gum.html?utm_source=InLine&utm_medium=InLine&utm_campaign=CEN
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-172/subpart-G/section-172.615
https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/secret-science-stuff/gum.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baC4iuD4gGU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R6R_V9xkAo
Thanks to our monthly supporters
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★
Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com
Watch our episodes on YouTube
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
View all episodes
By Melissa and Jam, Bleav
4.6
292292 ratings
#200
In this episode Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating world of chewing gum. They start by discussing awkward combinations of food and gum, leading to an exploration of what gum is made of. The conversation covers the basics of gum composition, including the roles of sugar, flavor, and especially the gum base, which itself is made of polymers. They explain why gum doesn't dissolve in saliva and how flavors are eventually lost as they are absorbed by saliva. The hosts also talk about the environmental impact of gum and spotlight an innovative company that recycles used gum into new products. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes related to gum, enhancing the scientific discussion with engaging memories.
00:00 The Gum and Chocolate Dilemma
00:40 The Mystery of Natural vs. Unnatural Gum
01:07 Mint Preferences and Gum Curiosities
02:22 Introduction to the Chemistry of Gum
03:31 Podcast Introduction and Community Shoutouts
05:54 Teaching Experiences and Family Connections
08:50 Deep Dive into Gum Chemistry
22:13 The Science Behind Gum Flavor
23:08 Sugar-Free Gum and Flavor Retention
23:42 The Role of Chemists in Gum Production
24:37 Explaining Gum Chemistry
26:18 The Structure and Properties of Gum
29:47 Natural vs. Synthetic Gum
31:50 Recycling Gum: Gumdrop Limited
34:34 Gum in Our Digestive System
36:35 Gum-Related Memories
44:30 Conclusion and Listener Questions
References from this episode:
https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i14/Recycling-used-gum-cycling-through.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=CEN&hootPostID=9a9a878b967d568f13944bd2bd2fa649
https://gumdropltd.com/
https://cen.acs.org/articles/85/i32/Chewing-Gum.html?utm_source=InLine&utm_medium=InLine&utm_campaign=CEN
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-172/subpart-G/section-172.615
https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/secret-science-stuff/gum.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baC4iuD4gGU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R6R_V9xkAo
Thanks to our monthly supporters
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★
Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com
Watch our episodes on YouTube
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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