White!So white!

I think most of you have found that why the paper around us so white. Actually not only the paper, tissue , toilet paper, bouncing baby nappies are also very white. They all may be undergo a bleaching process so that they all can bring white purity for us.

Chemical used in Bleaching Paper

In order to get paper products the right kind of white, chlorine is used as the bleaching agent. A bleach is a chemical that removes colors or whitens, often through oxidation. During bleaching process, some byproducts are realeased to the environment which are chlorinated compounds, dioxins and furans.
Research has shown that these chemicals not only persist in the general environment but will also bio accumulate with time. They have been found in growing numbers in lakes, rivers, animals and in our bodies where they are thought to contribute to the development of cancers, reproductive abnormalities, birth defects and other health problems.
However, improvements in technology have either eliminated the use of elemental chlorine through Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) technology or reduced the amount of chlorinated compounds released into the environment. Elemental Chlorine Free technology use chlorine dioxide instead of chlorine. Chlorine dioxide is today, acknowledged to be the best bleaching agent. In paper making, the changes from molecular chlorine gas to chlorine dioxide, a seemingly small change on the molecular level results but actually it is impact a lot to the envirnmental. ClO2 is an unstable gas with moderate solubility in water. It is usually generated in an aqueous solution and used immediately because it decomposes and is explosive in higher concentrations. It is produced by reacting sodium chlorate with a reducing agent like sulfur dioxide.
2 NaClO3 + H2SO4 + SO2 → 2 ClO2 + 2 NaHSO4



Keep in mind:

When you are going to use a paper product, consider its cost to the environment and to the health of future generations. Ask yourself whether you really need to use it or whether there is a more sustainable alternative. Let start to make some changes to protect our earth:

• do not print unless you really need to


• reduce using paper cups, kitchen towel, napkins, and other products which are not needed


• buy unbleached paper products wherever possible


• buy chlorine-free paper products


• always re-cycle paper and do not send to landfill

Alcohol

Have you all tried the alcoholic drinks before? If yes, then do you know how does the alcoholic drinks are made and what are the contents in this drinks? Of course, all the alcoholic drinks contain alcohol . Alcoholic beverage are usually divided into three classes which are beers, wines and spirits.

In chemistry, alcohol is an organic compound and its functional group consist of crbon bonded to an -OH group. The general formula for alcohol is CnH2n+1OH. The common term of alcohol is ethanol that can be found in alcoholic beverage. Alcohol is made by a process which is known as fermantation. Alcohol fermentation is done by the yeast and some kinds of bacteria. These microorganisms convert sugars into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. Alcoholic fermentation begins after glucose enters the cell. The glucose is broken down into pyruvic acid and then converted to CO2, ethanol, and energy for the cell. Fermentation is used in making bread, beer, and wine. The same microorganism is used in these three products: the common yeast or Saccharomyces Cerevisae.
The word equation for the fermentation process is:
Glucose + yeast--->alcohol+carbon dioxide

Application of Alcohol

1. Wear it
Ethanol is a common ingredient in many cosmetic. Ethanol is quite volatile so its function is to evaporate, absorbing its enthalpy change of vaporisation and cooling the skin. Furthermore, ethanol is also an ingredient in nail varnish. It acts as a slovent for the lacquer. When the solution is applied to the nails, the ethanol will evaporate and leaving a layer of laquer on the nail.

2. Dissolve in it
Ethanol is the safetest in the alcohol. So, normally it is used to dissolve chemicals that are insoluble in water. For examples,perfumes, cosmetics and vegetable essences such as vanilla extract.


3. Clean with it
You may have seen bottles of methylated spirits lying around, which is ethanol is added by a small amount of methanol. It is very good for cleaning paint brushes.
Attention,please don't consume too much of alcohol, it may kill you!!
Effects of Alcohol
There are many side effects if drinking too much alcohol. The effects of the drinking too much of alcohol are shown as the below:
1.destroy brain cells, possibly leading to brain damage.
2.greatly disturbs the structure and function of the central nervous system, hindering the ability to retrieve, consolidate, and process information
3.affect cognitive abilities while large amounts interfere with the oxygen supply of the brain causing a blackout when totally drunk.
4.Alcohol addiction may also inflame the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and could cause cancer in these areas, especially in drinkers who are also smoking
5.harm vision, , slow down the circulation, and water retention
6.lead to skin and pancreatic disorders, weaken the bones and muscles, thus, decreasing immunity
7. Alcohol cn disturb water balance by inhibiting the release of ADH, causing excessive urinary water loss and dehydration(which may also cause the symptoms of a hangover)
See, there are too much of negative effects to our body, so give you advise at here:
keep away from the alcohol