CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Seekers

RAAZ MALRA

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 CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Chemistry has influenced every sphere of human life. The principles of chemistry have been used for the
benefit of mankind. Think of cleanliness — the materials like soaps, detergents, household bleaches, tooth
pastes, etc. will come to our mind. Look towards the beautiful clothes — immediately chemicals of the
synthetic fibres used for making clothes and chemicals giving colours to them will come to your mind.
Food materials — again a number of chemicals will appear in the mind. Of course, sickness and diseases
remind us of medicines — again chemicals. Explosives, fuels, rocket propellents, building and electronic
materials, etc., are all chemicals. Chemistry has influenced our life so much that we do not even realise that
we come across chemicals at every moment; that we ourselves are beautiful chemical creations and all our
activities are controlled by chemicals.
MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
The branch of chemistry that deals with the study of drugs or medicines is known as medicinal
chemistry.It involves designing and synthesis of drugs depending upon their working in our body.
CHEMOTHERAPY
The branch of chemistry that deals with the treatment of diseases using suitable chemical substances is
called chemotherapy.
MEDICINES OR DRUGS
The chemical substances used to cure diseases and reduce pain are called medicines or drugs.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN MEDICINES AND DRUGS

In the language chemistry there is no difference between these two terms. However society and law have
made a clear-cut distinction between these two terms as follow:
Medicine :- It is a chemical substance which is used to cure a disease and does not cause
addiction.Moreover it has negligible or no side effects.E.g. Penicillin etc.
Drug:- It is a chemical substance which is used to cure a disease but it also causes addiction and has
serious side effects.E.g heroin etc.
INTERACTION OF DRUGS WITH TARGETS

The drugs interact with biomolecules within the body like proteins,carbohydrates ,lipids and nucleic acids.
These biomolecules are known as targets.when a drug is taken it travels through the body in order to reach
the target without being metabolized inbetween.Some important drug targets are,receptros enzymes and
carrier proteins.Proteins that are crucial for communication system in the body are called receptors.
Receptors are generally embedded in the cell membranes. The drugs that enter the body tend to stimulate
certain receptors.

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 CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
CHEMICAL MESSENGERS:- The chemical substances which are used to convey messages throughout the
body are called chemical messengers.In our body the message between two neurons and that between
neurons and the muscles is conveyed with the help of these messengers.These are received at the binding
sites of the receptors.Chemical messengers stimulate the receptors to produce an effect that is they
transmit the message inside the cell.These are of two types.

(a) HORMONES :- The chemical substances which are produced in endocrine glands are called
hormones.
(b) NEUROTRANSMITTERS. The small molecules which help in the transfer of nerve messages are known
as neurotransmitters.

AGONIST:- The drug which activates a receptor to produce an effect is known as agonist.These drugs are
useful when there is lack of natural chemical massengers.
ANTAGONIST:- T he drugs which occupy the receptor site and inhibit its natural function are known as
antagonists.These drugs are useful when blocking of message is required.
SIDE-EFFECT:- A drug causes side effects when it binds to more than one type of receptors.
It acts on an enzyme and inhibits its activity.The drugs which inhibit activity of enzymes are called
enzyme inhibitors.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICIENS

ANALGESICS:-The medicines which are used to relieve pains are called analgesics.E.g. novalgin,aspirin etc.

ANTIPYRETICS:-The medicines which are used to lower temperature of the body in high fever are called
antipyretics.E.g. paracetamol,phenacetin etc.
ANTISEPTICS:- The medicines used to kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms are called
antiseptics.They can be safely applied to the living tissues.E.g.Tincture of iodine,savlon,dettol,boric acid etc.
DISINFECTANTS:- The chemical substances used to kill microorganisms but cannot be applied to the living
tissues are called disinfectants.E.g. phenyl,harpic etc.

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 CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
ANTIMALARIAL :-The drugs which are used for the treatment of malaria are called antimalarials.E.g.
Quinine,Chloroquine,Paraquine etc.
TRANQUILIZERS:-The medicines which are used to cure mental diseases are called tranquilizers.These are
also known as psychotherapeutic drugs.E.g. barbituric acid etc.
SEDATIVES :-The drugs which are used to suppress the acivities of central nervous system are called
sedatives.These drugs provide feeling of calmness,relaxation or drowsiness to the patients.E.g. valium etc.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS:-The drugs which are used to cure patients from depression are called
antidepressants.These drugs produce feeling of well being and confidence in the patients.Therefore these
drugs are also known as mood booster drugs.E.g.vitalin,cocaine etc .
HYPNOTICS:-The drugs which are used to cure mental tension and anxiety ae called hypnotics .
NARCOTICS:- The drugs which relieve pain and produce sleep and unconsciousness are called narcotics.
The major disadvantage is that their continuous use cause addiction .
ANTIBIOTICS:-The chemical substances used kill microorganisms which cause infection are called
antibiotics.E.g. chlorophenicol etc.
BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS:- The antibiotics which are used to cure a variety of diseases because
of their effectiveness against several types of harmful microorganisms are called broad spectrum
antibiotics.
NARROW SPECTRUM ANITBIOTICS:- The antibiotics which are used to cure some selective diseases
because of their effectiveness against only some specific type of harmful microorganisms
SULPHA DRUGS :- The antibiotics which are used to cure bacterial diseases are called sulpha drugs.These
are also known as antibacterial drugs.E.g.Sulphanilamide,Sulphaacetamide etc.
GERMICIDES:- The chemical substances used to kill germs like fungi,virus,bacteria etc.
ANTACIDS:-The medicines which are used to cure acidity. These drugs neutralize the excessive amount of
HCl in stomach and raise the pH to appropriate level.E.g.Baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, Magnesium
oxide etc.
ANTIHISTAMINES:-The drugs which are used to treat allergy by neutralizing the effect of histamine in the
body are called anithistamines.These drugs are also known as anti-allergic drugs.E.g.benadryl,avil etc.
ANAESTHETICS:- The drugs which are used to produce insensibility to pains and other sensations are
called anaesthetics.E.g. chloroform,diethyl ether etc.
ANTIFERTILITY DRUGS:-The drugs which are used to check pregnancy are called antifertility drugs.E.g.
saheli etc.
NON-NARCOTICS(NON ADDICTIVE) :- The drugs which relieve pain and produce sleep and
unconsciousness are called non-narcotics. Their prolonged use do not cause addiction.
ANTIGENS :- The substances which cause allergy are called antigens.

FOOD ADDITIVES
The chemical substances added to foods for their preservation and enhancing their appeal are called food
additives. Some of them are as follow :-
(1)FOOD PRESERVATIVES:-The chemical substances which are added in food to prevent its spoilage are
called preservatives. Food gets spoiled due to spoilage of food due to microbial growth. The most
commonly used preservatives include table salt, sugar, vegetable oils and sodium benzoate.
ARTIFICIAL SWEETING AGENTS :-The chemical substances which are added in food to give sweetening
effect.They enhance odour and flavor of the food.E.g. Saccharin,Aspartame,Alitame,Sucralose etc.
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SOAPS
Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids .They have a polar head and a non-polar tail.
They are cleansing agents and used to clean fabrics and skin.E.g. Sodium palmitate,Sodium stearate,Sodium
oleate etc.
LONG CHAIN FATTY ACIDS OR HIGHER FATTY ACIDS
The carboxylic acids containing long chains of 16 to 18 carbon atoms are called higher fatty
acids.E.g.Palmitic acid (C15H31COOH),Stearic acid (C17H35COOH),Oleic acid (C17H33COOH) etc.
FATS AND OILS
The triesters of higher fatty acids and glycerols are called triglycerides .These triglycerides are commonly
known as fats and oils.

SAPONIFICATION:- The process of preparation of soaps by hydrolysis of fats and oils in the presence of
alkalies is called saponification.

Q : Write a short note on cleansing action of soap.

Ans :- CLEANSING ACTION OF SOAP:- Soaps are sodium salts of long chain fatty acids .they have a polar
head and a non polar tail.

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 CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

For example sodium sterate consists of non polar tail of long hydrocarbon chain and a polar head of
carboxylate ion and sodium Ions. The polar head is water soluble whereas the non polar tail is soluble in
organic solvents. Due to the presence of grease or fats on the cloth ,the dust particles get stick to the cloth
and the cloth becomes dirty. When the aqueous solution of soap is applied on the cloth the non polar end is
directed towards the oil or grease present on the cloth and the polar head is directed towards the water. In
this way each oil droplet is surrounded by a large number of negatively charged carboxylate ions to form
an aggregate called Micelle .A large numbers of micelles are formed during the process of washing. When
cloth is rubbed with hands or agitated with washing machine these micelles are dispersed in the soapy
water and dirt gets detached from the surface of the cloth.

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DISADVANTAGES OF SOAPS
i) Soaps cannot be used in hard water.
ii) Soaps cannot be used in acidic medium.

SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS
Synthetic detergents are sodium salts of long chain alkyl sulphates or long chain alkyl benzene sulphonates.
These are also known as soapless soaps because they possess cleansing properties like soaps but do not
conatin chemical composition like soaps.These are non-biodegradable in nature and hence cause water
pollution.E.g. Sodium lauryl sulphate, Sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate etc.
BIODEGRADABLE DETERGENTS
The detergents which have straight-chain structures can be easily decomposed by microorganisms are
known as biodegradable detergents.E.g. Sodium lauryl sulphate,Sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate etc.

NON-BIODEGRADABLE DETERGENTS
The detergents which have branched –chain structures cannot be decomposed by microorganisms are
known as non-biodegradable detergents.E.g.Sodium 4 – (1,3,5,7- tetramethyloctyl) benzene sulphonate etc.

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TYPES OF DETERGENTS:-They are of three types.

1) Anionic detergents :-The detergents which contain anionic hydrophilic group are called anionic
detergents.E.g. Sodium dodecy sulphate,Sodlium para dodecy benzene sulphonate etc.

2) Cationic detergents :- The detergents containing cationic hydrophilic group are called cationic
detergents.E.g.Trimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride etc.

3) Non-ionic detergents :- The detergents which do not contain any ions are called non-ionic detergents.
E.g. Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate,Polyethylene glycol strearate etc.

ADVANTAGES OF DETERGENTS

1) They can be used in acidic medium.

2)They can be used in hard water.
3)They have stronger cleansing action than soaps.

DISADVANTAGES OF DETERGENTS

Some synthetic detergents are non-biodegradable and hence cause water pollution .

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOAPS AND DETERGENTS

Q:-Why do soaps not work in hard water? Or What is hard water?

Ans :- Water which does not produce lather with soap readily is called hard water.Hard water contains
salts of calcium and magnesium.These salts are bicarbonates,chlorides and sulphates.When hard water is
treated with soap,the ions present in it react with anions of fatty acids present in soaps to form scum or
curdy wihte precipitate.As a result of which lather is not formed and a lot of soap gets wasted.

Q:-How do receptors transfer message to the cells? Explain.

Q:- Give the structural formula and IUPAC name of aspirin,paracetamol and phenacetin.

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