A Compound a Day

Intelligent Design

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:28:00 +0000

Last Wednesday, while walking the calm routes of the university, my four-year-old Kenneth Cole watch gave up one of its screws to the inevitable force of corrosion, and fell to the cold, hard pavement with a thud. I was immediately aware of a lack of weight in my left arm, and looked earthward to my horror: apart from the broken chain, its underside cover was thrown off, leaving the vulnerable inner parts at the mercy of harsh environmental elements. While the repair is just one jeepney ride away, I was suddenly aware that I was looking at the intricate inner workings of the watch. It was like beholding the entirety of the human body in all its complexity and simplicity in one glance. I was awestruck. And then to top it all off, my mind revealed to me snippets of the famous statement made by William Paley regarding the watchmaker analogy. It was the perfect moment. I've even snapped a photo of the watch's underbelly for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Ah, life!

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:14:00 +0000

Last Friday, Independence Day, I was given the most wonderful opportunity of seeing (and capturing!) one of the most fundamental processes of life in the most abhorred of species. The very process that enables life on Earth to flourish and proliferate. One that until now, we haven't fully got to comprehend, yet feels so natural to us. I am referring to the process of reproduction. Hey, flies have sex, too.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Immiscible

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:22:00 +0000

Seeing a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar is not anymore new to me, but the last time I had dinner with my parents at Italianni's was the first time I dared to play with it. I poured olive oil and balsamic vinegar onto my dip dish, and pondered on why they don't mix together. I suddenly felt my inner chemist wanting more than to say "They are immiscible!"

Indeed, both liquids are mainly made up of organic compounds with hydrophobic portions that can attract each other. The main component of olive oil is oleic acid, a fatty acid with a chain of 18 carbon atoms. Balsamic vinegar, on the other hand, has acetic acid, which is like oleic acid without the long hydrophobic tail.

Both compounds have hydrophilic polar groups at their ends due to their oxygen atoms. The difference in the lengths of their carbon chains, however, make their affinities significantly different. The hydrophobic interaction between the carbon chains of oleic acid and acetic acid is not enough to break the stronger polar bonds between acetic acid molecules. So it's like the acetic acid molecules would rather bond with another of their kind, and the oleic acid molecules will be left to go with each other.

(Image by squidring)

So there you have it - the sad story between olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It isn't all that sad though. These liquids are, after all, mixtures by themselves, so they do interact, even just a little, through their minor components and even through the other portions of their major components. Besides, with the help of bread, they go well together for the tastes of some people. :)

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Let's Get Physical!

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 06:26:00 +0000

Lately I've been into this whole jogging and working out thing. Maybe all this spurted out of boredom—I don't know. Anyway, I don't live in the best of subdivisions and I don't know any suitable jogging tracks around here and so stationary jogging was the case. I stationary jog for like 30 minutes and then do some pushups and ab exercises. Stretching completed the routine. I'm no expert at fitness stuff and all, and I don't really know if my exercise routine could get me anywhere, but at the very least I feel I'm on the right track to an active and healthy lifestyle.

Don't get me wrong, I was never the athletic type. Although I do try my best for the past years to stay fit and have an active lifestyle, the desire was always drowned by academic work and teenage hormonal imbalances and so exercising was never a regular thing for me. Not until now.

And, boy, do I feel great! They always say exercise is the best stress buster and now I can truly attest to that. That euphoric, exhilarating feeling you get after exercising is superb—you can almost see your heart pumping in and out volumes of fresh blood into blood vessels, bringing fresh supplies of oxygen and getting rid of the most notorious of toxins from the inner workings of my body. Not to mention I was all the more alert and mentally and emotionally prepped than ever. It was simply amazing.

Now I say this as a friendly advice to the next generation of kids out there. Go out and get some fresh air. Enjoy the great outdoors while a part of it is still there for you to enjoy. Our sedentary lifestyles need some major overhaul. Do some real social networking. Play tennis old style. Play around. Stand up. Move. That's what our bodies are designed for. I'm no father figure, and I can't believe I just said this, but yes, I just did. This isn't the first time you have read or heard of these things. This lifestyle issue has been around for ages, and there's no better time for you to change your couch potato status than today. This very moment. Now get up and do some movin'. I promise you won't regret it.

How about you? How do you maintain an active and healthy lifestyle?

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

My Brute

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:01:00 +0000

If you're looking for a low-maintenance, hassle-free way to wile your hours away, why not try signing up for My Brute. It's an online fighting game where everything's automated from the distribution of attribute points to the acquisition of weapons and bonuses to the battles themselves. All you have to do is sit back and relax as your character flattens (or is flattened by) the opponent. You'll never say goodbye to productivity as you're given only a limited number of fights per day (that is, not considering the number of times you'll reload the page of your Brute's cell just to see who beats whom or if you have acquired additional pupils). You'll sure wish there were more fights available than the preliminary six granted to you. There's also this pupil system that lets you progress faster—you gain experience when you gain more pupils or when one of your pupils gains a level. You also have the option to join tournaments or clans (and create one—creating a clan requires a minimum level of 10).

So what are you waiting for? It just takes seconds to create your own brute. No email address is required, just a Brute name and an optional password (if you want exclusive rights to the control of your Brute). And while I'm at it, you can be my pupil. You can challenge my Brute anytime (he has a measly strength of 2), just search for HansThane. Have fun playing My Brute!

My Cute Brute

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

The Six Things You Need to Know About Aerogel

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:42:00 +0000

In response to Daniel Sims' suggestion via skribit, here are the six things you need to know about aerogel:

It is 99.8% air. Aerogels were derived from gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with gas through a process known as supercritical drying. The result is a solid-state material with the lowest density, which brings us to the second thing you need to know about aerogel.
It is 1,000 times less dense than glass. Since it is 99.8% air, it is just appropriate that its density (1-2 kg/m³) is more or less equal to that of air (1.2 kg/m³). This property also contributes to its effectiveness as a thermal insulator.
It can support structures up to 4,000 times its own weight. This is demonstrated in the picture below, where a 2.5 kilogram brick is supported by a piece of aerogel weighing only 2 grams (Image by NASA).

It provides 39 times more insulation than the best fiberglass insulation due to the insulating properties of its constituents (e.g., silica in silica aerogels, carbon in carbon aerogels) and also to its extremely low density. Aerogels almost nullify the three methods of heat transfer: convection, conduction and radiation, thus it can withstand high temperatures.
Particles traveling six times faster than a rifle bullet can be stopped by a block of aerogel. Shown below is an interstellar particle captured in aerogel (Image by NASA).

Its high surface area (500-800 m²/g) leads to many applications, such as a chemical absorber for cleaning up spills. This feature also gives it great potential as a catalyst or a catalyst carrier, even as a drug delivery system due to its biocompatibility.

These are just a few of the astoundingly numerous possible uses and applications of aerogel. As we are only in the periphery of realizing aerogel's true potential, we should only hear more of this wonder material to crop up in the near future.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

No Acetic Acid!

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:17:00 +0000

We just had to react to this one. The new Datu Puti Cane Vinegar commercial proudly boasts of the newest "vinegar" formulation ever known to man—walang acetic acid! (no acetic acid! *wink*) It's great, perfect actually, until you realize, how on earth can you have vinegar without acetic acid? Clearly overhyped and the result of poor research (if there was any). I mean, duh, so what exactly are you trying to sell?

Let's get the facts straight.

The usual table vinegar consists of 4 to 8 percent by volume acetic acid. While it may contain small amounts of tartaric acid, citric acid, and some other naturally occurring acids, the fact remains as clear as day: you cannot have vinegar with no acetic acid!

If there's anything our chemistry professors were able to teach us well, it is the fact that acetic acid is and will forever be acetic acid whether it came from the "most natural of natural" sources or whether it was synthesized from the lab—it's still acetic acid. The acetic acid synthesized from the laboratory is 100% identical to the acetic acid produced through bacterial fermentation. Take note: we're talking here only of the acetic acid per se, not the vinegar mixture.

Just because acetic acid sounds like the kind of stuff a normal man shouldn't play with doesn't mean it should be one. We know you're trying to get the message through that your product (apparently) does not contain acetic acid synthesized from the lab. Well you can always say "100% Natural Datu Puti Cane Vinegar!" Although the "100% Natural" part still doesn't sound good to our chemist ears, at least it's not "no acetic acid!"

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll stick to my acetic-acid-containing-vinegar, kahit masamid ako ng kahit ilang beses.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Benzalkonium chloride

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:36:00 +0000

In a nutshell: biocide, cationic surfactant and phase transfer agent

What’s so interesting about it? One of the safest biocides known to man, benzalkonium chloride is most often seen in your everyday wet wipes and hygienic towelettes. A little bit of caution though: allergic reactions have been reported in some cases where there is prolonged, continuous exposure to the said compound. Well, as always, do use it in moderation.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:39:00 +0000

Welcome, Anezka Ysabelle, to the grandest, most bittersweet irony that ever existed that is life. Do enjoy your stay here!

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Love Overload

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:11:00 +0000

What better way to spend Valentine's Day than to sit down with yourself and none other than yourself and munch on some Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts?

Thirty minutes and a bad case of sugar overload later, I decided to stop.

I realized I was looking for love in all the wrong places (and in all the wrong food). Sugar sweetness does feel great one hour in, but after that sugar spike, in one moment you're limp as a wet noodle. And just as sugar overloads aren't that much wanted, love overloads aren't that much necessary either, if at all. Yeah we know you're kissing like there's no tomorrow. Unfortunately, there is a tomorrow. And it's coming real fast—like in three hours. The next thing you know it's already tomorrow and the other partner's gone for good just as fast as you've known each other. And then you sulk and whine for a day or two. And then a week later, you're suddenly craving for it again. Now this is bad. This is too emotionally draining, if not debilitating. And trust me, that ain't good. So please, just cut the one-time Valentine fling and settle for the slow but sure natural sweeteners of partners. Sure it's boring and steady, but that's the way nature intended it to be, and for this time, there's no going around it.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Endosulfan

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:03:00 +0000

In a nutshell: TOXIC

Chemical Formula: C₉H₆Cl₆O₃S

IUPAC name: 6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepine-3-oxide

Appearance: cream to brown colored solid

Uses: insecticide

What’s so interesting about it? I won't go through all the bloody details of how this particular combination of atoms is toxic to our body, but do remember this: if you see a lot of chlorine atoms (those Cl appendages in the structure above), that's sure going to be one heck of a toxin, at least as far as the human species is concerned.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

My Amphibious Friend

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:14:00 +0000

He's a reptile, actually.

Meet Mr. Turtle. My father brought him in last week from one of his strange trips to some unknown land where apparently he got this unusual trade. He's kinda green in color, and ducks his head inside his shell whenever I (or anyone in the house) get near him. So as much as I would like to see and examine his strange face, I can't and he certainly won't let me do so. I immediately sensed a certain attachment to him, even though I only saw him for like ten minutes.

Recently though, he has been moving in his home quite a lot. He's been very active lately. I can tell he ducks his head less frequently now than he did before whenever I get near him. I can tell he can tell.

Mr. Turtle is a good friend of mine, but I'll never approve of my father bringing him home. His habitat here is nothing more than shaped plastic and some leaves and rocks and almost stagnant water at the side. And he's still young. He needs his mother and father the most. But my father apparently knew better and abducted him to stay here to the delightful cheers of my two-year-old niece and nine-year-old sister. I too of course was delighted. But Mr. Turtle is more than a child's plaything. He's a unique, living organism, shell and all. We don't have the right to take him from his natural state at any time. We don't have the right to deprive him of the time he can spend with his parents and friends in his neighborhood. We just don't. What would we feel when some giant would make us his daughter's plaything (or worse, dinner)? What would you feel?

My heart goes out to Mr. Turtle. I know this house isn't his home. Someday, I'll bring him back.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Of Tagging and Death

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:02:00 +0000

I admit I'm not really fond of these sort of things, you know, the tagging game sort-of whatever.

But for mere gratitude to Christie Lynn's attention and link love, I'll gleefully oblige.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random and/or revealing things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your post entry is up on your site.

6 Not-So-Random Things

1. At one time or another, thoughts of becoming a male model have actually managed to creep up to my unrealistic head.

2. Everyone peed in their bed when they were little. Everyone includes me.

3. When I was two years old, my sister and I used to play at the terrace with an adjoining roof at the second story of our house, where my mom would let the bed mattresses dry (and disinfect) under the sun (why were they wet in the first place? See Number 2). Anyway we had this weird habit of sliding on the mattresses and stopping just as the slanting roof ends and a 10-foot fall begins. So yes, you got it, one time we were doing our usual thing and voila! My sister suddenly realized she was all alone. Looking down and confirming her worst fear, she saw me lying face down on the grass, unconscious and all.

4. They said it was a blessing of some sort that I fell on the grassy part and not on the concrete part of the ground. They said my "guardian angel" caught me during the fall, as I sustained only minor injuries and bruises. Whatever it was, they said maybe I still have some "mission" to fulfill in life, that it wasn't my time yet. Whatever it was, I'm still very grateful for making it for another 18 years in life. I hope I get to know my "supposed" mission soon.

5. Of course I've had my share of regrets of not dying then, especially during hard times, where dying is the only reasonable and logical option available.

6. I'm not suicidal. I'm just emo. Not the emo emo. But still emo. Somehow I tend to be happy when I'm sad. Like you're happy because you're sad. Beat that.

Okay. I cheated. The six numbers didn't necessarily pertain to six unique random or revealing things about myself, but that'll do.

I now thus tag:

1. A Postcard a Day
2. Comedy Plus
3. Modern Day Ozzie and Harriet
4. Planck's Post
5. The urban gurU
6. livelife365

Can't believe I've managed to finish this one. Good day to all.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

The 5 Things You Didn't (Or Did) Know About Fruitcake

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:46:00 +0000

"There's a fruitcake for everybody, there's a fruitcake for everyone."

Fruitcake, Eraserheads

Once there was candy cane, and then there was ethylene glycol. Then here comes fruitcake. Yipee.

For you aliens out there in Galaxy A640, Cluster 8, the fruitcake is yet another concoction brewed in the uncanny minds of the denizens of planet Earth meant to amuse and befuddle the human stomach.

"Fruitcake is a cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits. Fruitcakes are often served in the celebration of weddings and Christmas. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added and the name "fruitcake" was first used, from a combination of the words "fruit" (Latin: fructus, Old French: frui), and "cake" (Old Norse: kaka, Middle English: kechel).¹"

Fruitcakes may contain pine nuts, the ester counterpart of which (here comes the ester freak) is bornyl acetate. But of course with cheap nuts, there is no need for even cheaper ester alternatives.
The spirits referred to in number 1 are not the imaginary (or not) energy entities we inhabitants of the planet Earth are so afraid of, instead,

"A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit, is a drinkable liquid containing ethanol that is produced by means of distilling fermented grain, fruit, or vegetables.²"

alcohol

"Honey is a sweet fluid produced by honey bees, and derived from the nectar of flowers. Honey gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose and has approximately the same relative sweetness as granulated sugar.³"
Somehow, honey still has this distinctive tang to it that is simply irresistible to the senses. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I can remember sweet, honey-filled (literally) childhood memories. Side note: Well at least I've had a decent and normal childhood. I've had my share of mataya-taya (tag), patintero, sungka, and the like. Somehow the idea of playing online sungka hasn't the same feel to it as compared to playing the real game. Wii Sports tennis doesn't live up to half of what real tennis offers. Get a life, children of the 21st century, and go outside to play the real stuff.
I don't like fruitcake (not that it matters to the world anyway). Do you?

¹ Source: Wikipedia
² Source: Wikipedia
³ Source: Wikipedia

Don't forget to vote for us in the Blogger's Choice Awards for the Best Geek Blog of 2009. You may also vote for us for the Best Blog About Stuff, Best Education Blog, and the Freakiest Blogger. Thank you for your continued support. Happy holidays to everyone!

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Ethylene Glycol

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:03:00 +0000

Christmas is in the air, and so are we! Here we are again, anticipating the big day, along with other things: the decors, the lights, the gifts, the food and, for the people in the temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere, the snow.

So what is today's compound doing here in our series of Christmas compounds? Just read on.

Season's greetings to all!

In a nutshell: sweet but toxic

Chemical Formula: C₂H₄(OH)₂

IUPAC name: ethane-1,2-diol

Appearance: colorless syrupy liquid

Uses: antifreeze, suppressant, protecting group (for organic synthesis)

What’s so interesting about it? Joining the line up of our tasty Christmas season compounds is ethylene glycol! Don't let it's sweetness deceive you, though. Ingestion of this compound would allow it to undergo a series of reactions, which would eventually result to formation of crystals in the kidney. Sounds scary? Well, good for us, it can only be found (well, supposedly) in things we are less likely to eat!

So, what's so Christmas-y about ethylene glycol? Especially in the countries celebrating white Christmas, this compound is very important. Like it's cousin, propylene glycol, it is used to keep liquids from drying out too easily. It is used as antifreeze in automobiles, preventing the liquids in the engine from freezing in the winter's cold, thus keeping its parts lubricated.

Other heat transfers systems which use liquids, like those air conditioning units and even in personal computers, are usually maintained fluid with ethylene glycol.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

The Top 5 Chemical Compounds in the Candy Cane

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:35:00 +0000

For the next few days, we're gonna jump on the holiday bandwagon and feature the darling compounds behind the festive feasts and treats that since time immemorial have symbolized Christmas, or any other similar festivity, for that matter.

First off: the candy cane. But I'll digress for a bit. I admit I'm not that much fond of this confectionery. Aside from contributing largely to tooth decay (which I've learned to hate, what with the pain of dental fillings), I find it pretty hard, as in rock hard. Well of course it was designed all the while to be hard, but I'm not really fond of hard candies (including jawbreakers and stuff). Seems to give me no satisfaction whatsoever, in contrast to the fulfillment of being able to chew a softee right down to its lovely, nougaty center filled with oozing, creamy, chocolatey goodness. But then that's just me. Okay then, back on track. We now present The Top 5 Chemical Compounds in the Candy Cane:

Sugar a.k.a. sucrose. The main event. Of course you knew about this one. Gives the cane structure and at the same time, flavor. Careful though, this one's not so tooth-friendly. It's always a good idea to brush your teeth or chew some sugarfree gum after eating your share of candy cane (and now I'm a dentist?). As if you don't know this one. (Image source: Lauri Andler)
Corn syrup Composed mainly of glucose (another one of bacteria's favorites), and made using cornstarch as a feedstock. Corn syrup thickens, sweetens, keeps your candy cane moist and maintains its goodly freshness.
Peppermint That minty flavor we all love. Peppermint has a high menthol content, but it may also contain menthone and other menthyl esters. Somehow, the idea of sugar-peppermint candies does not appeal to my gustatory sense.
Grape Grape! While I highly doubt it if your local candy cane consists of real grape extracts, the companies behind their production might opt for cheaper fare, that is, by using artificial grape flavors. Remember the esters? One ester behind the grape flavor is ethyl heptanoate. Chip in some of that to that candy cane formulation and voila! You've got the grape without the ache (pardon the poor rhyme). (Image source: Claus Ableiter)
Cinnamon I know. While some may terribly detest cinnamon (although I can hardly tell why), this one's my all-time favorite. Like grape, there's the ester behind the cinnamon flavor: ethyl cinnamate. Anyway, for those cinnamon-haters out there, give it a second chance. It's not so bad, after all. If ever you've had some horrific cinnamon experience in your past life, I promise you this won't be the same awful encounter. Take it from me. I know. -With love, the Cinnamon Lover (uh, what was that?) (Image source: Luc Viatour)

Anyway, why don't you check out the poll to the right? Do you love cinnamon?

And that's it for the candy cane! Check back real soon for more holiday treats and trifles to feed your inner geek. And oh, do enjoy your holidays. Happy Christmas, everyone. :)

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Squalene

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:56:00 +0000

In a nutshell: precursor for steroid synthesis

Chemical Formula: C₃₀H₅₀

IUPAC name: 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosahex-2,6,10,14,18,22-ene

What’s so interesting about it? Though the name of this compound sounds like it, squalene doesn't have anything to do with a triangle with sides having different lengths!*

Squalene is the starting material for the synthesis of steroids, which are a group of compounds having four fused rings of carbon atoms characteristic to steroids. Steroids play different important roles in the body, like regulation of some parts of metabolism and functions of the immune system, stimulation of bone and muscle development, development of sexual characteristics, and many more, depending on what specific steroid.

One of the reasons for hunting sharks is the shark liver oil, which contains squalene. Squalene is said to be useful in healing wounds, sores and sicknesses, but not much literature strongly or, at least, consistently supports this information. Shark liver oil is sold in the market as a general health care product.

*FYI: It's scalene triangle, not squalene!

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Histamine

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:48:00 +0000

In a nutshell: a compound behind allergic reactions

Chemical Formula: C₅H₉N₃

IUPAC name: 2-(3H-imidazol-4-yl)ethanamine

Appearance: colorless crystals

Uses: neurotransmitter

What’s so interesting about it? Depending on what receptor is receiving it, histamine serves different roles to the body. Aside from its involvement in the immune system, it regulates sleep, following a cycle of reception of histamine and its antagonists by different receptors.

As many people know, histamine is the compound behind allergic reactions. In the presence of allergens, i.e. the things that cause allergy, complex reactions occur in the body, leading to the activation of certain white blood cells, called the mast cells and the basophils. Mast cells and basophils contain histamine. Allergic reactions are characterized by the excessive activation of those cells. When certain receptors receive histamine, this triggers some of the manifestations of allergy we know - itching, sneezing, redness of the eyes, rashes,... and the long list goes on.

People experiencing allergic reactions usually take antihistamines. Antihistamines block histamine molecules from being received by its receptors. Watch out for our future posts about the common and the not-so-popular antihistamine compounds!

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Polyvinyl chloride

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:49:00 +0000

In a nutshell: a type of plastic (polymer, if you're into geek terms)

Chemical Formula: (CHClCH₂)_n

Uses: for your everyday plastic needs, it can be found almost anywhere, everywhere you see plastic

What’s so interesting about it? Let's get right down to it quick! Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contains phthalates (male reproductive toxicants, contribute to various other adverse health effects), vinyl chloride (an air pollutant and a known human carcinogen that causes a rare cancer of the liver), and dioxins (linked to immune system suppression, reproductive disorders, a variety of cancers, and endometriosis). You knew it would lead to this, didn't you?

Fortunately, you can easily spot PVC plastics by looking at the number inside the triangle recycling symbol found at the bottom of most containers:

So there you have it! Try to avoid PVC at all costs, and be sure to bring it to the recycling centers in due time for proper disposal. Be kind to the environment. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Amen.

P.S. Not PVC. Don't reuse it ever.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Allicin

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:52:00 +0000

In a nutshell: a medicinal compound obtained from garlic

Chemical Formula: C₆H₁₀OS₂

IUPAC name: 2-propene-1-sulfinothioic acid S-2-propenyl ester

Uses: medicinal compound with antibiotic properties

What’s so interesting about it? Allicin is a compound which can be obtained from Allium sativum, more commonly known as garlic, that is why it was called as such. However, garlic does not actually have allicin in it! So how do we get this compound which the source doesn't have? Simple! We crush the garlic. Garlic cloves contain an amino acid, called alliin. Upon tissue damage in garlic, alliin reacts with the enzyme allinase, forming allicin as the reaction product.

Allicin is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, that is why garlic is popular, not only for its use in cooking but also in medicine. It is also said to have antioxidant properties, being able to protect cells from free radicals.

Unfortunately, allicin is quite an unstable compound, degrading right after it is formed. Heating or cooking garlic can even hasten the degradation of this compound, that is why some prefer to add crushed raw garlic just before serving the dish.

Trivia! Wondering what makes people teary-eyed while chopping garlic? It's allicin! While chopping garlic, tissues of the garlic are being destroyed, allowing alliin to react with allinase to form allicin. Allicin, which is also responsible for the pungent smell of garlic, irritates the eyes and mucous membranes, triggering our tear glands to, well, produce tears.

Too much contact or ingestion of raw garlic can be bad not only to the eyes but also to the skin (see this) and the digestive tract.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Talc

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:16:00 +0000

In a nutshell: the source of your talcum powder, baby powder, cosmetic powder, you name it

Chemical Formula: Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂

Uses: used as a cosmetic, lubricant, filler, chalk, and food additive, among other things

What’s so interesting about it? Despite the staggering number of applications of talc, there have been reports to suggest that talc may be linked to pulmonary issues, lung cancer, skin cancer and ovarian cancer. While these are not yet 100% proven, still it's wise to practice some caution in using talc in all its forms. You don't really need that cosmetic powder to be able to live a normal life, right? Plus, it'll clog your pores. Not good.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Mefenamic Acid

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:14:00 +0000

In a nutshell: used for relieving mild to moderate pain

Chemical Formula: C₁₅H₁₅NO₂

IUPAC Name: 2-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)aminobenzoic acid

What’s so interesting about it? This one must be another familiar compound. Mefenamic acid is one of those we commonly see on the labels or on the ingredients list of some drugs, specifically on those of pain-relievers.

Mefenamic acid minimizes inflammation and contractions in the uterus, so it is classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Like other NSAIDs, it is said to be involved in inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, a group of compounds which cause inflammation and pain.

Prostaglandins, however, do not exist in the body just to cause pain and swelling. They serve different regulatory functions, including inflammation, which is a response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, and maintaining a protective lining in the stomach. Too much intake of mefenamic acid and other NSAIDs may lead to various side effects, including ulcer.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

1-octen-3-ol

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:03:00 +0000

In a nutshell: attracts mosquitoes

Chemical Formula: C₈H₁₆O

Other names: octenol

What’s so interesting about it? Described having a green, moldy, or meaty smell, 1-octen-3-ol surely sends the mosquitoes flying frantically to their next target. As octenol is contained in human breath and sweat, we surely can't be undetectable to these pesky insects. Too bad. On the flip side, we, the clever humans, had found a way to turn this disadvantage to an instant benefit: octenol is used in combination with carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes and other insects in order to kill them using certain electronic devices. Sweet, huh?

The surefire way to become invisible to these mosquitoes? Don't sweat. Oh, and don't breathe too.

Trivia! Octenol is also produced by several plants and fungi, and it is used in certain perfumes.

And one more thing! Please don't confuse this with 1-octen-3-one. Pretty please.

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Iron (III) Oxide

noreply@blogger.com (squidring) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:22:00 +0000

In a nutshell: red ochre, etc

Chemical Formula: Fe₂O₃

Chemical name: iron (III) oxide, ferric oxide

Appearance: red-brown solid

What’s so interesting about it? What does dried blood and rust have in common? Color? Yes! And, going even deeper, ferric oxide. Ferric oxide is responsible for the reddish-brown color of rust, as well as that of red soil.

Ferric oxide is also known as the painting pigment, red ochre. Its hydrated form (Fe₂O₃ • H₂O), on the other hand, is yellow ochre. The compound has been used as pigment since the ancient times in cave paintings and cosmetics. Also known as jeweller's rouge, it is also used for final polishing of jewelry.

Known for its paramagnetic properties, ferric oxide is an important compound in our storage devices. Hard disks, floppy disks, tapes, and other similar storage devices run under patterns of magnetization on a thin film, usually made of ferric oxide. That does the trick for storing information beyond the capabilities of our paper supply!

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!

Carbon monoxide

noreply@blogger.com (HansThane) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:01:00 +0000

In a nutshell: so toxic yet so important

Chemical Formula: CO

Appearance: colorless, odorless gas

What’s so interesting about it? Remember hemoglobin, the one responsible for delivering oxygen to your cells? Well here comes a scene stealer: carbon monoxide. Upon entering your body, carbon monoxide causes your hemoglobin to be transformed into carboxyhemoglobin, which cannot effectively do the job of oxygen delivery quite as well as hemoglobin. To top it all off, hemoglobin has a greater affinity for carbon monoxide than oxygen, making it even easier for carbon monoxide to steal the show.

Small quantities of carboxyhemoglobin in your blood lead to oxygen deprivation of the body causing tiredness, dizziness and unconsciousness. Large quantities cause death—that's carbon monoxide poisoning. And you all know this, cigarette smoke contains large amounts of carbon monoxide, so as if you weren't aware of this, cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health.

And yet, despite its high toxicity, carbon monoxide has countless applications in today's modern industrial processes, ranging from bulk chemicals manufacturing to the purifying of nickel. Ironic, huh?

An interesting thing to note about carbon monoxide poisoning is its association with "paranormal experiences" clearly attributable to its symptoms of listlessness, depression, dementia, emotional disturbances, and hallucinations. Here is an example of the said case:

"Mr. and Mrs. H." moved into a new home, but soon began to complain of headaches and fatigue. They began to hear bells and footsteps during the night, accompanied by strange physical sensations and sightings of mysterious figures. When they began to investigate the symptoms, they discovered the previous residents of the house had similar experiences. An examination of their furnace found it to be severely damaged, resulting in incomplete combustion and forcing most of the fumes (including carbon monoxide) into the house rather than up the chimney.¹

So before you completely jump into the conclusion that you live in a haunted house, do consider first having carbon monoxide detectors installed in your house. But hey, who knows, maybe your house is really haunted after all. Happy All Souls' Day!

¹ A True Tale Of A Truly Haunted House by Albert Donnay

Like what you read? Subscribe to our RSS feed (or get daily email updates) and get a daily dose of the wackiest and the weirdest compounds ever discovered by man!