CHEMISTRY OF NAIPOLISH

CHEMISTRY:-
Chemistry is the branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed,
the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new
substances.

IMPORTANCE OF CHEMISTRY:-
Everything is made of chemicals. Chemistry is very important because it helps us to know the
composition, structure and changes of matter. All the matters are made up of chemistry. Body
is made up of chemical compounds, which are combinations of elements. The diagnostic tests
carried out in laboratories, the prognostic estimations, medical prescriptions, pills, the vaccines,
the antibiotics play vital role in health monitoring, control of diseases and in alleviating the
sufferings of the humanity. Right from birth control to enhancement of life expectancy-all have
been possible using the unequivocal services of Chemistry. From cloth mills, leather factories,
petro chemical industries and refineries to metal industries all use numerous fuels for power
generation and chemical products for processing their products and improve the quality and
simultaneously produce pollution. Chemistry explains how food changes as we cook it, how it
rots, how to preserve food, how our body uses the food and how ingredients interact to make
food. We use chemistry when use bleaches and disinfectants and even ordinary soap and
water. Part of the importance’s of chemistry lies in developing and testing new medical
treatments and medicines. We use chemicals everyday and perform chemical reactions without
thinking much about them. All matter is made of chemicals, so the importance of chemistry is
that it’s the study of everything.

CHEMISTRY OF NAILPOLISH:-
Painting your nails with nail polish might not seem like a particularly complex chemical process,
but there’s much more to it than meets the eye. Polymerization, thixo tropic agents, solvents
and thermochromism are all are terms you might expect to hear more frequently in a lab than
in a nail salon, but they can all crop up in relation to nail polish. In this article, we take a look at
the different chemistry that comes together to colour your nails.
FILM FORMING POLYMERS:-
Conventional nail polish contains a polymer dissolved in a solvent. When applied the solvent
evaporates and the polymer forms a film. The most common polymer is nitrocellulose.

NITROCELLULOSE

GEL NAIL POLISH:-

Gel nail polish is made up of meth acrylate monomers and a photo initiator such as benzoyl
peroxide. Expose the mixture to UV light triggers polymerization and solidification.

SOLVENTS:-
Ethyl acetate and butyl acetate are commonly used as solvents, and give nail polish its
characteristic smell. Ethyl acetate and acetone are used in nail polish removers.

ETHYL ACETATE

PLASTICISERS:-
Plasticisers stop polish from cracking or chipping. They remain behind when the solvent
evaporates or when the polish is cured with UV light, in fact they are used in a wide range of
plastics, not just polishes and help to add flexibility. Dibutyl phthalate was a widely used
plasticizer but its use has been banned in the EU since the 2004 due to concerns over the
possibility of it interfering with the human hormone system.

PIGMENTS AND OTHER AGENTS:-

Pigments in nail polish are either inorganic pigments (such as iron oxide) or organic (carbon-
based ) pigments. Thermo chromic and photo chromic pigments are also possible. Inorganic
pigments used include chromium oxide for greens, iron oxide for reds and oranges, and ferric
ferrocyanides for blues. Organic pigments are those used in food colorings, and come in a range
of colours.
PEARLESCENT EFFECTS:-
Pearlescent effects are due to materials such as titanium dioxide and mica. Some polishes also
contain glitter. Thickeners (e.g. stearalkonium hectorite ) suspend these in the polish. As some
nail polishes can last for up to two weeks, stabilisers are added to prevent the polishes
changing colour when exposed to sunlight. Benzophenone-1 is commonly used.

benzophenone-1

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF NAILPOLISH:-

Chemical ingredients disguised in pretty colours on your nail polish can be surprisingly harmful
and can lead to some serious health risks.

Most nail care products contain, in varying amounts, many toxic and potentially hazardous
ingredients. Chemical ingredients in nail care products range from cancer-causing compounds
such as formaldehyde to others that disrupt the endocrine system. Researchers have identified
toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate-nicknamed the ‘’toxic trio’’ because of their
serious health impacts-as three chemicals of high concern for salon workers.

Toluene is a commonly used solvent that creates a smooth finish across the nail and keeps the
pigment from spreading in the bottle, but can affect the central nervous system and cause
reproductive harm.

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is used as a nail-hardening agent and disinfectant for nail
care tools.

Exposure to dibutyl phthalate, added to polishes to provide flexibility, has been linked to
reproductive problems. In addition to this trio, there are many other harmful chemicals used in
nail care products.

Many nail salons lack adequate exhaust ventilation or multiple pathways-such as open windows
and doors- to increase indoor- outdoor air exchange. Evaporated chemicals from nail products
are often trapped inside salons, meaning workers are continuously exposed. So worker’s
exposure is amplified: first they experience direct contact with the chemicals in the products,
then they continuously breathe in these chemicals within small, poorly ventilated salons.

CONCLUSION:-
One bottle of nail polish can cause negative health effects. Some ingredients used in nail polish
have been linked to cancer, heart problems, reproductive abnormalities, thyroid disorders and
allergies. Imagine 768 million bottles of nail polish that are sold a year, this can cause an even
higher chance to link to cancer in many more diseases. Nail polish has a huge effect on our
environment. It hurts the environment if it does not recycle properly. The companies that make
nail polish have to make it more safe for our environment.

REFERENCES:-
msssohag.blogspot.com/2012/10/importance-of-chemistry-in-our-daily

https://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/the-chemistry-of-nail-polish

https://www. livescience.com/ 50917-the-hidden-risks-in-nail-polish

https://rionnanailpolish.weebly.com/conclusion