SUNSCREENS: THE CHEMISTRY OF PROTECTION

AGAINST UV RADIATION

A PROJECT WORK SUBMITTED FOR THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENT FOR GRADE XI SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY
SUBMITTED BY

Name of Student: Seringma Limbu

Class: 11
Roll no: 1
Email address: sseringmalimbu@gmail.com
Name of school: Shree Shanti Bhagawati Secondary School

Submitted to: Shanti Prashad Chamlagai

Department of Chemistry
Shree Shanti Bhagawati Secondary School
Letang-4, Morang
 CERTIFICATE OF APPPROVAL
This project work entitled, “Sunscreens: The Chemistry of Protection Against UV
Radiation” by Ms. Seringma Limbu is submitted for the partial fulfillment of project
work of Chemistry of grade XI has been accepted.

…………………………….
Shanti Prashad Chamlagai
Department of Chemistry
Shree Shanti Bhagawati Secondary School
Letang, Morang
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to the completion
of this project. First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Shanti Prashad
Chamlagai for their invaluable guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the
duration of this project. Their expertise and insights were instrumental in shaping my work
and guiding me through the various stages of research and development.
I am also thankful to Shree Shanti Bhagawati Secondary School for providing the necessary
resources, facilities, and funding that made this project possible. Additionally, I would like
to acknowledge the assistance of some of my friends and my sisters for their help with data
collection, analysis, and other aspects of the project.
Furthermore, I extend my appreciation to my family and friends for their understanding,
patience, and encouragement during this endeavor. Their unwavering support served as a
constant source of motivation and inspiration.
Finally, I express my gratitude to all the participants and individuals who generously
contributed their time, expertise, and insights to this project. Their collaboration and
cooperation were invaluable in achieving my objectives and advancing my understanding
in this field.
Thank you to everyone who played a role, no matter how big or small, in bringing this
project to fruition.

Seringma Limbu
Shree Shanti Bhagawati Secondary School
Letang Morang, Nepal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTORDUCTION TO SUNSCREENS
Sunscreens are topical products designed to protect the skin from the harmful effects of
ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. UV radiation can cause various negative effects on
the skin, including sunburn, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer.
Sunscreens work by either absorbing, reflecting, or scattering the UV radiation before it
can penetrate the skin.

There are two main types of ultraviolet radiation that sunscreens protect against:

1.1) UVA: UVA stands for Ultraviolet A radiation. It is a type of ultraviolet radiation
emitted by the sun. UVA rays have longer wavelengths (320-400 nanometers) compared
to UVB rays, and they can penetrate deeper into the skin. While UVA rays are less intense
than UVB rays, they are present consistently throughout the day and can penetrate clouds
and glass. These rays penetrate deeply into the skin and contribute to premature aging, such
as wrinkles and age spots. They also play a role in some skin cancers.

1.2) UVB: UVB stands for Ultraviolet B radiation. It is another type of ultraviolet radiation
emitted by the sun. UVB rays have shorter wavelengths (280-320 nanometers) compared
to UVA rays. UVB rays are more intense than UVA rays but do not penetrate the skin as
deeply. These rays primarily affect the outer layer of the skin and are the main cause of
sunburn and skin cancer.
2. SPF (SUN PROTECTION FACTOR)
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which is a measure of how well a sunscreen can
protect your skin from UVB rays, the type of ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn and
contributes to skin cancer. When a sunscreen is labeled with a specific SPF value, such as
SPF 30 or SPF 50, it indicates the level of protection it provides against UVB rays. Here's
what the SPF number means:

SPF 30: This means the sunscreen theoretically allows you to stay in the sun 30 times
longer than if you were not wearing sunscreen before your skin starts to burn. For example,
if you typically start to burn after 10 minutes in the sun without sunscreen, SPF 30 would
allow you to stay in the sun for approximately 300 minutes (10 minutes x 30 SPF).

SPF 50: Similarly, SPF 50 would allow you to stay in the sun 50 times longer than without
sunscreen. So, using the same example, if you start to burn after 10 minutes, SPF 50 would
provide protection for about 500 minutes (10 minutes x 50 SPF).

3. TYPES OF SUNSCREENS
3.1) Physical or inorganic sunscreen: Physical sunscreen is also called mineral or inorganic
sunscreen since it’s made up of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It protects us from UV
rays by absorbing 95% of rays and reflecting 5% away from our skin. Physical sunscreen
contains finely ground particles of zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which are dispersed
in a lotion or a cream. When applied to the skin, the mineral particles in physical sunscreen
form a thin, protective layer that sits on the skin's surface. This layer acts as a physical
barrier that reflects and scatters UV radiation before it can penetrate into the deeper layers
of the skin. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide broad-spectrum protection against
both UVA and UVB radiation. They are effective at blocking a wide range of wavelengths
of UV radiation, ensuring comprehensive protection against sunburn, premature aging, and
skin cancer.
3.2) Chemical or organic sunscreen: Chemical sunscreens, also known as organic
sunscreens, contain active chemical compounds that work by absorbing UV radiation and
converting it into heat energy. These sunscreens typically contain organic (carbon-based)
compounds as their active ingredients, which undergo chemical reactions upon exposure
to UV radiation. Some common chemical sunscreen ingredients include:

a) Avobenzone: A key ingredient for absorbing UVA rays, providing broad-spectrum

protection against the aging effects of sun exposure.

b) Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3): Effective in absorbing both UVA and UVB rays, often
used in combination with other ingredients to enhance sunscreen stability.

c) Octocrylene: A UVB filter that also helps stabilize other UV filters, contributing to the
overall effectiveness of the sunscreen formulation.
d) Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate): Primarily absorbs UVB radiation, providing
protection against sunburn and contributing to the broad-spectrum coverage of the
sunscreen.