Follow the link to a collection of chemistry based articles. Choose one that is of interest to you. Read it and then, in the comment section below, write a short (1-2 paragraph summary) of your article.
25 Comments
My article was about caffeine; what it does and how much a person can consume. The article stated that caffeine is structurally similar to adenosin, which is found in our brains. The job of adenosin is to slow nerve activity, caffeine binds with adenosin receptors and blocks the receptor, as well as increases nerve activity. The incease isn't a bad thing, with feeling stimulated, more alert, and energetic. But, too much caffeine intake can cause nervousness, headaches, and increased heart beat.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 03:41:09 am
And let's not forget its addictive nature! Ever been around someone trying to kick their caffeine addiction? Not fun!
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Kassidy Smtih
8/26/2015 03:37:19 am
My article was about tattoos. Everyone knows that tattoos are ink that is ejected with a needle past the epidermis to the dermis, so the pigment stays there (for the most part). This article was explaining what the ink is made of. "Most tattoo inks are pigments suspended in a carrier solution that keeps the color pigments evenly distributed for smooth application. Salts of heavy metals are usually the source of color for the inks." What this is saying is that the ink is made of metals (from the periodic table and found on earth).
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 03:42:45 am
I've heard horror stories of people having allergic reactions to the ink, too, especially the reds. Google some pictures someday if you get bored ;)
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colten
8/26/2015 03:45:17 am
The antibiotic tetracycline, excess fluoride, or trauma can darken or reveal the yellow inner tooth. Coffee, tea, cola drinks, or smoking will attack the outer surface. The common whitening methods target only outer stains. Enamel is the hardest substance in your body, and is composed of phosphate and calcium.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 03:49:12 am
Have you ever tried to whiten your teeth? I had a kit once from the dentist and, as your summary pointed out, it caused extreme tooth sensitivity. I had to stop using it, which was a shame since it was really expensive!
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Courtney
8/26/2015 03:45:46 am
I choose to read the article about the science of sleep because I always had trouble with my sleep. When I was younger I couldn't go to sleep and now that I'm a teenager it seems that I can't stay awake. So it was interesting that teens need two to three hours more sleep then adults and kids. The most interesting thing I learned was how light effects our melatonin. I know what melatonin was because I would have to take it when I was a child. But I didn't know that the gland that produces it would only release it when it is dark out. I'm one of those weird kids who can get up really early and fall asleep early.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 03:51:26 am
Phones at bedtime are becoming a real problem! As you say, the light reduces melatonin production, which makes it more difficult to fall asleep. Now that you know this will you change your habit of reading on your phone before bed?
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Yvette Alaniz
8/26/2015 03:47:10 am
I read the article "Are Chemicals Getting A Bad Rap?". What I learned from it that people often make the mistake by saying that all chemicals are bad, or cause cancer. If that were the case everyone would have cancer or be sick often, which is not it at all. Yes some chemicals can cause cancer or make us very ill, but like what it said in the article that we also use chemicals to treat our sicknesses. We are all made up of chemicals because it is what make us,us. Chemicals, which can also be known as substances, are nothing more that compounds, elements, and mixtures and makes up a lot of what is around us. We eat, drink, and breathe chemicals everyday. Another big mistake most people make is the meaning of the word natural, as in natural chemicals. We cannot be fooled by this meaning because natural chemicals can be just as dangerous as compound or mixed chemicals. It is important to know your chemicals and distinguish the good from the bad and be more educated so you know what substances you are dealing with.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 03:59:01 am
This is an interesting conversation to have! Dihydrogen Monoxide...sounds scary, right? Causes drowning, intoxication, etc. etc. (It's just water...H20)
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I read the article ¨Fermentable Foods: Trouble in your diets¨. I really found this article interesting not only because of the content but also because I could really relate to the girl that was talked about in the article. Sarah was a high school athlete that had a diet when she was in season but somehow during her diet she started feeling gassy and sometimes constipated. I've been dealing with the same issues lately, so reading this really brought up even more questions. Sarah had heard from a friend that it could be because of the glucose that came from the food she was eating so she changed her diet. But even when she changed was she was eating, she started experiencing different symptoms like diarrhea. So she went to the doctor and he told her she had FODMAPs which is a disease that is an irritable bowl syndrome and the doctor told her to reduce her intake of food containing a range of compounds. Now I know what to ask the doctor when I go in and see if I could be having the same troubles like Sarah had. Maybe by knowing if I have this disease it could help me not be so uncomfortable in school or even in practice.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:01:04 am
There are a lot of conditions that can cause GI symptoms. It could be something as simple as drinking more water, not getting enough (or too much) fiber, or eating too many gas causing foods like beans or broccoli. Make yourself a guinea pig and see if you can figure out which food(s) are causing you to feel bad!
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8/26/2015 03:49:20 am
I already knew that the more calories we eat over our limit, the more fat we gain. Also the extra calories that we consume are stored as fat in our body. Other people have a faster metabolism than others. Having a fast metabolism means that you can break down food faster than those who have a slow metabolism which take a longer time breaking down the foods that they consume. That is why some people with a slow metabolism are careful and watch what they eat so that they don't end up gaining extra weight they don't need.
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Angelica Mireles
8/26/2015 03:50:36 am
I read the article "The Big Reveal: What’s Behind Nutrition Labels"
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:03:06 am
A problem most of face at some point in our lives! When you're really hungry try getting into the habit of snacking on high protein, lower sugar foods. Also pay attention to the type of sugar you're eating. Is it natural sugar, like that found in fruits, or is it junk sugar (which can cause weight gain for reasons other than it's calorie content)
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ethan
8/26/2015 03:49:49 am
Teeth whitening is very common and can be very effective but can also be very expensive it can be anywhere from $650 to just the cost of fruit. you can whiten your teeth by eating an apple. Things that can yellow your teeth are coffee, tea, and cola drinks is just a few. Bleach can help whiten your teeth but can also ruin your gums. One thing commonly used is hydrogen peroxide some people think it is dangerous but 3.6% peroxide is just fine for your teeth.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:03:59 am
Apples...I wonder how that works! Did the article explain in any detail?
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Jentry
8/26/2015 04:00:36 am
The article I read was called "24 Hours: Your Food on the Move!" It is in the February 2012 magazine. In this article it talks about the human digestive system. It takes you through the steps of the digestive system. First, it talks about ingestion, which is putting the food into your mouth. Then, it talks about the digestion process (the breaking down of food). Next, it talks about absorption, where anything of value is extracted and passed through the rest of your body. Finally, it talks about elimination, whatever is left over becomes waste.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:05:17 am
We could spend a whole semester just learning about this one body system! The things we take for granted, eh?
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Marie
8/26/2015 04:04:28 am
The article that most caught my attention was The Science of Sleep. The reason this article captured my attention was because I know everyone needs sleep and that everyone has trouble getting up in the morning, so I thought it would be interesting to learn about the chemistry of sleep. One of the topics I read that I found fascinating talked about how we have our own internal clocks. At first I didn't think that could be possible, but I was wrong. As I read, I learned that our bodies have cycles called circadian rhythms. What circadian rhythms do is they govern our sleep schedules by releasing a chemical called melatonin that makes us feel drowsy. This chemical lets us know that it is time to sleep. As we sleep, it decreases and makes us feel refreshed in the morning. Learning this has given me a better understanding of how and why we get tired.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:07:43 am
It would certainly be an interesting experiment, wouldn't it? What time would you suggest starting (and ending) school? I, personally, do my best work from about 11am-11pm. Mornings aren't my favorite (or most productive) time of day...and I'm an adult!
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8/26/2015 04:08:14 am
My article was about the Science behind Sleep. There is a chemical in are brain that is produced called Melatonin. Melatonin helps convince our bodies to make us sleepy. At night teens are most likely to stay up late and not get enough sleep which means that the brain is not making enough Melatonin to help us sleep at night. It was stated that teens need at least three hours more sleep than children or adults because we need time for the Melatonin to break down and not be tired in the morning. Also, that if you get the right amount of sleep you can be able to pay attention more, and learn better. I thought that this was interesting because, I love sleep and had no idea that there were chemicals in my brain that made me tired. And it makes me want to get more sleep for myself so I can learn better.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:20:43 am
Do you agree with Marie that school should be started later in the day?
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Danya
8/26/2015 04:09:42 am
The article I read was about saturated sugars that from various types of candies. The sugar forms differently when the sugar cools slowly or cools fast. The different amounts of time gives sugar more time for the molecules to separate to form hard candy. The shorter the time, the more the molecules stay condensed in one space.
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Mrs. R
8/26/2015 04:22:28 am
There's a whole field of study out there called Food Chemistry. It's fascinating stuff!!
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