Chemistry For Your Life

#229

What makes wool an essential fabric for many people? Is lanolin truly antimicrobial, or is wool itself responsible for its famed properties? Join us as we unravel the complexities of wool and lanolin, diving into its chemical structure, historical anecdotes, and surprising anti-odor capabilities. Does wool really keep the bacteria at bay, or is there more to the story? Tune in and explore the chemistry behind this wonder fabric!

00:00 Listener's Request: The Mystery of Lanolin

01:08 Introduction to Chemistry for Your Life

04:08 The Complex Chemistry of Wool

11:33 Exploring Lanolin: Properties and Uses

19:51 Exploring Lanolin in Wool

19:59 Investigating Wool's Antimicrobial Properties

20:54 Odor Reduction in Wool

21:57 Scientific Explanations and Hypotheses

24:46 Hydrophobic Properties of Wool

26:46 Wool's Interaction with Bacteria

31:04 Complexities of Wool Processing

35:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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References from the Episode:



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Question and Response #74

Melissa and Jam dive into a series of fascinating chemistry questions submitted by listeners. They explore how food affects the absorption rate of alcohol in the blood, the science behind shelf-stable milk turning solid after opening, and why dogs' feet might smell like Fritos. The duo also answers an intriguing question about the risks of dental X-rays versus ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Additionally, they discuss a fun science experiment involving dissolving candy canes in different liquids, providing a perfect activity for kids to learn about the world of chemistry. Special thanks to the community members and listeners whose questions keep the show engaging and informative.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

02:23 How Food Affects Alcohol Absorption

06:42 Shelf-Stable Protein Shakes

10:26 Why Do Dogs' Feet Smell Like Fritos?

14:49 The Risks of X-Rays

17:56 Understanding Dental X-Ray Radiation

18:39 Annual Radiation Dose and Safety

19:32 Comparing Risks: Dental Issues vs. X-Rays

20:12 Why X-Ray Technicians Use Shields

20:59 Explaining Radiation Risks to the Public

22:55 Fun Science Experiments for Kids

25:31 Explaining Polarity and Dissolution to Kids

30:47 Encouraging Scientific Curiosity in Children

34:41 Supporting the Show and Community Shoutouts

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References from the Episode:

https://youtu.be/30_QRAC6XOU

https://www.abc.ca.gov/education/licensee-education/alcohol-facts/#:~:text=Alcohol%20does%20not%20require%20digestion,Therefore%2C%20food%20slows%20intoxication.

https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-sources-and-doses

https://www.epa.gov/radiation/calculate-your-radiation-dose

https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/doses-daily-lives

https://ehs.stanford.edu/manual/radiation-protection-guidance-hospital-staff/natural-sources-radiation#:~:text=Cosmic%20radiation%20comes%20from%20the,approximately%2028%20mrem%20per%20year.

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

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Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

Julie S.

Heather Ragusa

Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon
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#077

Who's doing what to our salt? What's iodine, do we need it, why, and how do they get it in there? This week Melissa and Jam dive head first into figurative iodized salt dunes. Let's take a closer look at the chemistry of something so everyday, we hardly even think about it.

References from this episode

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es0719071

https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1021/ed077p984#:~:text=The%20presence%20of%20iodine%20in,in%20preventing%20simple%20endemic%20goiter

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed062p1016

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/2015-2016/february-2016/salt-facts.html

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/

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Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

Kyle McCray

Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

Julie S.

Heather Ragusa

Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon
Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#228

In this festive episode, Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating science behind why ribbons curl when pressed against a blade. The discussion covers polymers, their molecular structures, and the forces at play during this process. With a blend of personal holiday memories and a detailed analogy involving crocheted yarn, the duo makes complex chemistry accessible and fun for all listeners. They also share their favorite holiday traditions and movies, making this episode a blend of heartwarming stories and educational content.

00:00 Guess the Sound Game

01:37 Introducing the Topic: Curly Ribbon Science

03:51 Chemistry Behind Curly Ribbon

04:20 Polymers and Their Properties

05:59 Crochet Analogy for Polymers

12:23 Molecular Mechanics of Ribbon Curling

15:34 Practical Tips for Perfect Ribbon Curls

19:36 Holiday Reflections and Chemistry Recap

22:37 Understanding Polymer Behavior

24:28 Molecular Forces and Rearrangement

28:02 Holiday Traditions and Memories

36:33 Favorite Christmas Movies

40:37 Wrapping Up and Listener Shoutouts

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References from the Episode:

https://books.byui.edu/plastics_materials_a/plastic_high_strain_#:~:text=The%20molecular%20interpretation%20(in%20polymers,rupture%20and%20the%20sample%20breaks.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02076https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35809116.amp

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1514626113

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ba-1993-0233.ch005

https://courses.ems.psu.edu/matse81/node/2109

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

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Vince W

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Autoclave

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J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

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#227

Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind firecrackers and Christmas crackers. They discuss the key component, silver fulminate, explaining its unstable nature and how it reacts to create the explosive effects. The discussion also touches on the octet rule, formal charges, and isomers. Along with sharing personal experiences and pranks involving firecrackers, they also recount historical debates between chemists over the discovery of isomers and their eventual agreement. The episode highlights the importance of chemistry in understanding everyday phenomena and ensuring safety.

00:00 Introduction and Firecracker Anecdotes

00:58 Chemistry of Firecrackers

04:53 Explosive Chemistry Explained

19:55 Historical Discoveries and Isomers

24:20 The Origins of a Scientific Discovery

24:48 Friendship and Scientific Collaboration

25:24 Understanding Isotopes and Isomers

27:20 Chemistry Behind Christmas Crackers

30:26 Fireworks and Safety Concerns

35:52 Fire Alarms and Home Safety

42:33 Supporting the Show and Community Shoutouts

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References from the Episode:

https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/festive-fuels/8016.article

https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/silver-fulminate-and-cyanate/3005952.article

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03027

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspa/article/139/839/576/3351/Thermal-decomposition-and-detonation-of-mercury

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0040603181801852

https://cen.acs.org/articles/85/web/2007/08/Mercury-Fulminate-Revealed.html

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03027

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

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Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

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Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon
Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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