Green Materials

     While searching for an inspiration for this blog, I happened to be staring around my apartment.  I wanted to find something to write about that I could relate to my life.  I ended up digging through my cleaning products (buying all environmentally-friendly cleaning products is a crusade I embarked upon about two years ago, and it's going really well).  I found a product, and decided to do some research on the internet to find out exactly how awesome this product is.
     One brand that I use is called Seventh Generation, which is apparently one of the most popular brands of green cleaning products out there.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they have a really informative website.  The Free & Clear All-Purpose Cleaner that I chose to research has only a handful of ingredients, almost all of which are plant-based.  The only exception to the plant-based ingredients was a synthetic preservative.  The use of this preservative was something I could understand because since the ingredients in this product are natural, it would probably have a pretty short shelf-life if there was nothing in it to ensure that it did not age too rapidly.  Also, there is clearly not a whole lot of this preservative in my cleaning product, because it is the last ingredient listed on the label.
     The first ingredient listed on the label for the cleaner I found is caprylyl glocuside.  I did some research on this compound, and learned that it is a pretty interesting product because it is able to do something that chemicals used in traditional cleaning products cannot.  It is used to mix oils from plants and water that are not normally able to mix, so that they can be together in the same product and they will not separate.  It is very mild, and I also learned that it is quite prevalent in many lines of green household cleaning products.  The molecular formula for it is C22H46O6.
   One alternative to the caprylyl glucoside that is in traditional cleaning products is sulfates.  Sulfates serve the same purpose that this plant-based ingredient does, and it has various detrimental affects on the human body.  The most mild that I was able to find is that sulfates strip natural moisture from the human body, along with other things like amino acids.  I would take my cleaners made from plants over that any day.

Chemical Compounds

     For this blog, I used the label from a box of crackers.  I decided to pick three random compounds, and I found thiamin mononitrate, maltodextrin, and disodium guanylate.  Disodium inosinate has the chemical formula C₁₀H₁₁N₄Na₂O₈P.  It is a food additive that is commonly found in snacks, and it is said to add an "umami-type" taste to foods.  Umami is a recently-discovered taste, and it is described as being broth-like.

     Maltodextrin is another food additive that is normally seen as a sprayed-on type white powder.  When I read this, it occurred to me that this discovery meant that there was artificial color in my crackers.  That did not entirely surprise me, but obviously something like that is not comforting.  The chemical formula is C_6nH_(10n+2)O_{(5n+1).  The third compound I found was thiamin mononitrate, which has a chemical formula of}C₁₂H₁₇ClN₄OS.  This compound is derived from B vitamins, and is commonly known as vitamin B1.  Thiamine is an essential nutrient for living creatures because it enables them to perform vital cellular functions.

     This activity was very interesting for me because it allowed me to further consider what I am putting into my body.  Almost anything we interact with or purchase has a label, but how many of us take the time to read it?  And even though some of us may read it, how many fully understand what it says?

What is Green Chemistry?

     Green chemistry is the study and practice of designing and using products that reduce or eliminate hazardous materials.  The main idea here is to reduce the need for energy sources and to make products safer.  While reading online, I was able to find many instances where a practice that was considered an industry standard was discovered to be unsafe.  When this occurs, green chemists are able to find safer alternatives that are both cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
     Another idea brought about by the rise of green chemistry is that it is easier to prevent a mess from being made than it is to clean up a mess that has already been made.  This is especially pertinent now, as our energy sources are running out and current industry practices are destroying the environment.  Green chemistry is quickly becoming more "trendy," and certainly making people more aware of the affect that humans have on the world around them.
     Supporting the idea of green chemistry are what is known as the "12 Principles of Green Chemistry."  These all seem pretty basic on their own; the list includes things like designing safer solvents and calling for  pollution prevention.  When they are all put together, it is a very straightforward set of ideals that illustrate the need for this type of work to be done.