| General chemistry is a science that is deeply | | | | sodium hydrogen carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. |
| incorporated in our everyday lives, but most of the | | | | The first one, acetone, is a chemical that is often the |
| people are probably not aware of it being so. After | | | | main ingredient in nail polish removers. It is used |
| reading this article, you will think a bit more about | | | | because it is a very good solvent, and is capable of |
| everyday life chemistry the next time you light a | | | | removing pigments and other chemical compounds |
| match or a lighter, or for example, change the | | | | that stay on your nails after applying nail polish. |
| antifreeze in your car. Everything mentioned can | | | | Acetone in nail polish removers is often mixed with a |
| serve as excellent example for chemistry processes | | | | certain amount of water, and sometimes parfumes |
| that we witness often. | | | | or pigments may also be added, but these |
| When you light a match, a complex reaction occur in | | | | compounds usually don't change the properties of |
| the tip of the match that contains potassium chlorate | | | | acetone as a solvent. Acetone is basically a |
| (an oxidant), sulfur, starch, glue and some other | | | | flammable and colorless liquid, and is the simplest |
| ingredients. The striking surface on the match box, | | | | example of ketones. It has a lower density than |
| usually contains powdered glass, red phosphorus, glue | | | | water, and boils already at 57°C. |
| and other ingredients. When you strike a match on | | | | The other mentioned compound is sodium hydrogen |
| this surface, the heat of the friction causes a | | | | carbonate, often called baking soda, because it is the |
| reaction between the potassium chlorate in the | | | | main (and mostly only) ingredient in baking powder |
| match head and the red phosphorus in the striking | | | | which is used because of its ability to decompose |
| surface. That way sparks are formed, which finally | | | | into CO2 when it reacts with acids. This carbon |
| ignite the match head that continues to burn after | | | | dioxide that is released by the mentioned reaction, |
| that. | | | | helps the dough to "rise". The mentioned, sodium |
| Igniting a lighter as an example isn't as complex as | | | | hydrogen carbonate (also known as sodium |
| the above mentioned case, but it is also an | | | | bicarbonate) is a white solid crystalline powder, that |
| interesting example. When you press down the | | | | mostly appears as a fine powder. It has a slight |
| wheel of the lighter, the friction between the wheel | | | | alkaline taste, and mostly no odor. |
| and the flint causes the sparks to be formed. At the | | | | The last compound that we mentioned is hydrogen |
| moment when sparks are still in the air, the butane | | | | peroxide. The most common application of this |
| propane gas is being released and it catches fire, and | | | | compound is hair bleaching. In such products it has a |
| then continues to flow, as long as you have your | | | | concentration between 3% and 12%. Even more |
| thumb pressed down on the lighter. The products of | | | | diluted solutions of this compound are used for |
| the combustion of butane and propane are water, | | | | wound disinfection. Hydrogen peroxide, when pure, is |
| and carbon dioxide. | | | | a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscous |
| We also mentioned changing the antifreeze in your | | | | than water, and it is known to appear colorless in |
| car. The use of antifreeze is also an excellent | | | | dilute solutions. It has strong oxidizing properties, and |
| example of everyday chemistry. It is added to the | | | | is a strong bleaching agent, as we mentioned, even in |
| cooling system of your car because it lowers the | | | | lower concentrations. Beside the mentioned |
| temperature at which water freezes. That way the | | | | applications it is also used as an antiseptic, an oxidizer |
| freezing point of water gets much lower than the | | | | and a propellant in rocketry. |
| lowest temperatures in the winter, and that way it | | | | The compounds that we mentioned are just some of |
| never gets a chance to solidify and cause serious | | | | the most well known chemicals that we usually use |
| damage to your car. In addition most modern | | | | very often. If one is also interested in founding out |
| antifreeze solutions also contain substances that | | | | more related to the chemicals that have been |
| inhibit corrosion. | | | | mentioned in this article, or other substances that are |
| These were just some of the many situations where | | | | also commonly used in our everyday lives, there are |
| chemistry can give you an answer on how something | | | | many pretty useful and interesting sites that can be |
| works. However, there is also another way by which | | | | found online with various data related to common |
| most of us are also in contact with chemistry every | | | | and basic chemsitry related tutorials, and other |
| day - everyday chemicals that we often use, and | | | | interesting information regarding chemistry as well. |
| mostly don't think about. Here we will mention three | | | | For more information check out the link in the author |
| of the most commonly used chemicals: acetone, | | | | bio below. |