London Pope
The Molecules around Me
Food and nutritional supplements:
Cranberry Pills
Active Ingredients: Cranberry Fruit extract
Other Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Ascorbic acid, Glycerin, Maltodextrin,
Rice bran Oil, Water, Yellow Beeswax, Artificial colors (Carmine, Titanium
Dioxide, Caramel).
1) Ascorbic Acid
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Molecular formula: C6H8O6
Inorganic compound because there is no carbon present
 Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. It is a white or light yellow solid that can be
found in many foods. It is essential for the life of humans. It was discovered by two
Norwegian physicians and was known as the “essential disease-preventing compound.”
2) Gelatin
 Molecular Formula: C6H12O6
 Organic compound because it has carbons
 Gelatin is flavorless solid material that is extracted from animal bone
marrow, animal skin, and raw hides. There is roughly 300,000 tons of
gelatin produced each year worldwide. It can be bought for cooking in many
different forms like sheets, granules or powder.
3) Glycerin
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
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Molecular Formula: C3H8O3
Inorganic compound because there are no carbons present
Glycerin is a colorless, odorless liquid. It serves as a solvent and a sweetener in foods and
is also known to preserve some foods. Glycerol as about 27 kilocalories per teaspoon,
which is interesting because real sugar only has 20 kilocalories per teaspoon so it is
pointless to use this as a sugar substitute.
4) Maltodextrin
 Molecular Formula:C6nH(10n+2)O(5n+1)
 Organic compound because carbons are present
 In the United Sates Maltodextrin is usually derived from corn and is used as
a food additive. It is extremely easy for the human body to digest and may
be absorbed as glucose. It is found in many processed foods and even
beverages like beer. Maltodextrin helps with the feel of the beer inside the
mouth. It reduces the dryness of the beer making it more satisfying to drink
for some people.
5) Cranberry Extract
 Molecular Formula: C30H26O12
 Inorganic compound because there are carbons present
 Cranberry extract is used to help prevent urinary tract infections, it helps
with the improvement of eyesight, and it can even help slow the process of
nerve aging. Cranberries also have anti-cancer causing agents in them.
Healthcare and medicinal products:
Tylenol Cold multi-symptom
Active Ingredients: Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin,
Phenylephrine
Inactive Ingredients: Alcohol, Anhydrous Citric Acid, FD&C blue #1, Flavor,
Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Purified water, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbitol solution,
Sucralose
1) Alcohol
 Molecular Formula: C2H5OH
 Organic because there are carbons present
 Alcohol has many uses in society. It was discovered in the tenth
century and was originally called kohl. Alcohol has a bond angle
degree is 109. The boiling point for alcohol is 78.29 degrees Celsius.
2) Acetaminophen
 Molecular Formula: C8H9NO2
 Organic because it has carbons present
 Acetaminophen is used for pain relief. It is possible to overdose on
Acetaminophen and if that occurs in can cause liver damage and
possibly death. It is very toxic to cats and helpful to dogs.
3) Guaifenesin
 Molecular Formula: C10H14O4
 Organic because there are carbons present
 Guaifenesin is used to treat respiratory infections and has been used
for many, many years. On July 12, 2002 Guaifenesin was given a
time-release and manufactures could not sell the old products that
were unapproved by the FDA. There are side effects to this product
like nausea, vomiting, and in rare cases the formation of kidney
stones.
4) Sucralose
 Molecular Formula: C12H19Cl3O8
 Organic because there are carbons present
 Sucralose is used in products as an artificial sweetener and cannot be
broken down by the body. It is 600 xs as sweet as regular table sugar.
It is usually used in products that have a longer shelf life rather than
using table sugar. It is found in more than 4,500 products, both food
and drinks.
5) Phenylephrine
 Molecular Formula: C9H13NO2
 Organic because there are carbons present
 Phenylephrine is commonly used as a decongestant, but can also be
used for the dilation of pupils, and to increase blood pressure. It is the
most common decongestant that is used in the United States and is
sold over the counter. One effect is hypertension and people who
already have hypertension are advised not to take products with
Phenylephrine in them.
Personal Hygiene and cleaning products:
Dove Visible Care Body Wash
Ingredients: Water, glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium
Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidoproply Betaine, Tallow Acid or Palmitic Acid, Lauric
Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, DMDM Hydantoin,
Disodium EDTA, Methylisothiazolinone, lodopropynyl Butylcarbamate,
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), titanium Dioxide
1) Sodium Chloride
 Molecular Formula: NaCl
 Organic molecule because there are carbons present
 Sodium Chloride is also known as salt and is an ionic compound. China is
the world’s main supply for salt. Salt is evaporated from seawater, salt lakes,
etc… and is mass produced for people all around the world. The United
States comes in at number two for the production of salt.
2) Stearic Acid
 Molecular Formula: CH3(CH2)16CO2H
 Organic compound because carbons are present
 Stearic Acid is a saturated fatty acid that has an 18 carbon chain on it.
It is a solid with waxy properties. Stearic Acid is put into to soaps
because it gives the soap a soft texture.
3) Methylisothiazolinone
 Molecular Formula: C4H5OS
 Organic because there are carbons present
 Methylisothiazolinone is a substance that controls growth in a water
containing substance. There has been some concern with the
production of this product within other products because it has been
known to be allergenic. The CFTA named this product safe for the use
in cosmetics, but it’s concerning to some. The maximum
concentration of this product in cosmetics is 0.01%. If there is more
than 0.01% it can be dangerous to humans.
4) Titanium Dioxide
 Molecular Formula:TiO2
 Inorganic compound because there are no carbons present
 Titanium Dioxide is an odorless white solid. It has a melting point of
1843 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 2792 degrees Celsius.
Titanium Dioxide is also insoluble in water.
5) Sodium Isethionate
 Molecular Formula: C2H5NaO4S
 Organic because there is carbon present
 Sodium Isethionate is not compatible with very strong oxidizing
agents. It is soluble in water. It is a salt that comes from coconut oil. It
is most commonly used to replace animal salts. It is used in cleansers
to help the water cling to the dirt and oil on the skin.
Works cited:
http://www.soap.com/p/nature-made-super-cranberry-450-mg-vitaminc-softgels-45898
http://www.naturemade.com/products/herb-supplements/super-strength-cranberry-plus-vitamin-c
http://www.diffbtwn.com/2010/01/difference-between-organic-and.html
http://www.soap.com/p/nature-made-super-cranberry-450-mg-vitaminc-softgels-45898
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascorbic_acid
http://www.medicineonline.com/drugs/n/3530/NORVIR-ritonavir-capsules-Soft-Gelatinritonaviroral-solution.html
http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB9680379.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin
http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.733.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerin
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0104-66322010000100015&script=sci_arttext
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltodextrin
http://www.shgosun.com/Cranberry-Extract-p121.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranberries_extract
http://www.pieceandquilt.com/2012/07/dove-visible-care-body-wash-product.html
http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Water/PublicWaterSupply/PublicWaterS
upply.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_chloride
http://straighthealth.com/pages/dietitian/carbs-fats-proteins-explained-energy.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stearic_acid
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Methylisothiazolinone.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylisothiazolinone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_dioxide
http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB8253893.htm
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/cleansing/products/sodium-isethionate-incleansers.htm
http://www.indyposted.com/129464/another-tylenol-recall-issued/
http://vischem105blog.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-7-homework.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol
http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---A/Acetaminophen--Paracetamol.htm
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=1983
http://www.drugs.com/acetaminophen.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucralose
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/fluka/phr1027?lang=en&region=US
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phenylephrine.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylephrine