Chemistry of sunblock

Chemistry of sunblock

Sunblock is designed to protect you from UV radiation from the sun, which is a shorter wavelength than the visible light, by forming a physical shield. Major of the energy emitted by the sun is in the form of UV radiations, and it can be divided into three categories, including UVC, UVA, and UVB radiations. Ozone in the atmosphere absorbs all UVC before it reaches the Earth’s surface, and it approximately absorbs 90% of UVB radiation. However, UVA radiation is less affected by the atmosphere. Therefore, both UVA and UVB cause damage to the skin, in which UVA causes aging while UVB causes burning. Each type of UV radiation has a different wavelength; the longest wavelength is UVA radiation, which can reach to 400nm.

In the past, the Egyptians used ingredients, such as rice bran, jasmine, and lupine to ensure sun protection, whereas the ancient Greeks used olive oil. Nowadays, both inorganic chemicals and organic chemicals are ingredients in sun protection products. The two inorganic compounds used are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The first sunblock contains only these chemicals, which act as a physical sun protectant, making a barrier against the damaging rays of the sun by scattering and reflecting them away from the skin. As a result, physical UV protection products leave a visible white layer on the skin. On the other hand, sunscreen is a term that describes either a physical or chemical sun product, which absorbs the UV rays.

Sunscreen is used; it is a combination of inorganic chemicals with organic chemicals. Due to the chemical structures and chemical bonds in certain organic chemicals, they are able to absorb photons of the UV light. Then, this energy is dissipated harmlessly in the form of heat. Therefore, a mix of organic chemicals, which can absorb different wavelengths, is used in order to ensure protection against the full range of UVA and UVB wavelengths. Organic chemicals are, for example, octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, octocrylene, and ecamsule.

Comments

Tears as a remedy for the skin

Tears as a remedy for the skin Expressing spontaneous emotions, particularly the negative ones, considered a sign of immature or inability to self-control, but crying, in fact, is a sign of emotional intelligence, which allows realizing one’s feelings and expresses them appropriately. Tear composition : it contains softener substances that clean, protect your eyes, and moisturize them. The salty nature of tear, containing sodium, calcium, magnesium, ammonia, and some vitamins, also oxygen, phosphorus, and other minerals supports the composition of tear and completes the tear function effectively. Tears are not one type, however, three types of tears: Basal tears : tears ducts secret this type. They are rich in antibacterial protein, which keeps the eyes moisturize each time you blink, helping in improves one’s vision. Existing constantly in the eyes; thus, they prevent dryness of tunica mucosa . Aging decreases the secretion of this type of tears. Newbo...

Chemistry of cleaning materials

Chemistry of cleaning materials Chemistry keeps you clean, in which cleaning products are formulated with different chemical properties. The main reason behind inventing the soap was cleaning dishes and using it in medicine, as Galen mentioned. Babylonians around 2800 BC were the first, who manufactured soap-like materials, using plants and animal fats boiled with ashes and water. Whereas, the ancient Egyptians in 1550 BC made a product similar to soap through mixing animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts, and women used it for washing their hairs. Also, in 600 BC the Phoenicians mixed goat fat with wood ash; Syrians and Palestinians were the first, who used olive oil, laurel oil, and thyme oil and potash. However, modern cleaning products vary, for example soap, detergent, air freshener, and bathroom polish, containing a number of chemicals. Soap includes sodium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids obtained by natural resources from plants and anima...

Vaccines

Vaccines A vaccine is a biological preparation of weakened, killed, or fragmented microorganisms, or toxins, antibodies, or lymphocytes that introduce into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease. Vaccination is a method, which prevents disease occurrence instead of treats it. Vaccines vary into different types, including live-attenuated , inactivated , toxoid , and conjugate as well as recombinant vaccines. Administration of a vaccine is an important factor in order to ensure transporting it to the proper part of the body; therefore, transport of a vaccine has several mechanisms. For example, intramuscular , subcutaneous , or intradermal injection, and oral administration in addition to intranasal spray are applications that delivers vaccine. Live-attenuated vaccines Live-attenuated vaccines contain whole bacteria or viruses, but these are weakened and do not cause illness in a healthy individual, however, immune system patients are not ...

sundus

Search This Blog