Treating injuries with cold therapy
Athlete treating injuries
Cold and Hot Pack
For cold therapy, usually ice is used and for hot therapy, a hot water bag is used. Instead of using ice, a pack filled with chemical agent that reacts endothermically(absorbs heat) may use for cold therapy. Meanwhile, a hot water bag can be substituted with a pack filled with chemical agent that reacts exothermically(release heat). The packs mentioned are hot and cold pack. Both instant hot and cold can usually maintain their temperature for approximately 30 minutes. Hot and cold packs can be used in numerous ways. Have you ever used a cold or hot bag before? I’m sure majority does. But do you know how they work to give the cooling or warming effect?
A bag used for cold therapy
An ice bag
Hot water bag
I love this^^
Sponge bob hot water bag
Cold Pack
The invention of instant cold pack brings a lot of benefits as it is very convenient. I’m sure many people have came across a cold pack before.Cold packs can be used for chilling food and drink as well as for alleviating body aches and pains. But do you know how it works? For your information, a cold pack is made up of a strong and flexible outer plastic layer. The inner part of the pack is separated into two compartments. One compartment is filled with liquid(water) and another is filled with a freezing chemical mixture(salt). The cooling reaction is activated when pressure is applied to the pack, allowing the liquid and the freezing chemical to mix.
Instant cold pack
A cold pack
How cooling effect is activated?
Have you thought of what reaction that makes a cold pack has the cooling effect? The answer is simple, the ENDOTHERMIC reaction. An endothermic reaction involves the process of absorption of heat. In cold packs, usually ammonium nitrate is used as the freezing chemical agent. As mentioned earlier, when pressure is applied on a cold pack, the frangible barrier between the two compartments ruptures, causing water and ammonium nitrate to mix. The reaction between water and ammonium nitrate is an endothermic reaction as it absorbs heat from the surrounding. When ammonium nitrate reacts with water, it splits into positive ammonium ions and negative nitrate ions. In this process of dissolving the crystal, water molecule tend to ‘donate’ some of its energy, thus lowering its temperature. As result, you will feel the cooling effect on the cold pack as the water cools down.
Ammonium nitrate
Equation showing ammonium nitrate dissociates into ammonium ions and nitrate ions
Positive ammonium ion and negative nitrate ion
Other freezing chemical agents that can be used in cold pack:
Hot pack
Have you ever used a hot pack to warm your hands during cold weather or during a muscle cramp? Hot pack is definitely a girl’s best friend especially during menstrual cramp. The hot therapy instantly relieves the suffering pain.
How it works?
Like a cold pack, an instant hot pack has the same physical structure. However, the reaction that takes place to give the warming effect of a hot pack is different. The chemical reaction that takes place in a hot pack is an EXOTHERMIC reaction, which means that it releases heat during the reaction. Like a cold pack, an instant hot pack needs a chemical agent to undergo chemical reaction. For hot pack, anhydrous calcium chloride is used. Same goes to hot pack, when the outer bag is squeezed, the film between the two compartments will rupture, allowing water and anhydrous calcium chloride to mix. Exothermic reaction between water and anhydrous calcium chloride releases heat, causing temperature of the water to increase. At this time, the hot pack is ready to be used.
Hot packs
Other substances that can be used in hot packs:
Reusable heat pack
Instead of instant hot pack, you can try using reusable heat pack. You can reuse the heat pack instead of using once.
How it works?
A reusable heat pack uses sodium acetate crystallization and resolution system. Sodium acetate freezes at 54˚C at normal condition. However, when sodium acetate is placed in a sealed container, this solution can be cooled well below this temperature(-10˚C). This change is called super cooling.
When the metal disc in the bag is bent, it triggers a single molecule of liquid in the bag to crystallize and slowly causing the entire solution to change from liquid to solid. This phase change causes the pack to heat. When the heat pack is triggered, the solution is ‘taught’ how to crystallize, and the temperature jumps back to its ‘freezing’ point. The heat pack produces an even heat flow with the crystals it produces at higher temperatures. A reusable heat pack can produces heat for approximately two to three hours, depending on the size of the bag. Placing the bag in boiling water redissolves the sodium acetate crystals, and thus the heat pack can be reused.
Sodium acetate
Metal disk in the bag is bent
Bending of the metal disk triggers the molecule to crystallizes
Causing the other molecule to start crystallize
The entire solution turn from liquid to solid
And now....
You know how cold and hot pack work. And it's time for us to appreciate this excellent invention because they are useful. ^^
Soymilk pudding
When Chinese dessert is mentioned, many will think of soymilk pudding ( called tau fu fa in Chinese). It is a very popular Chinese dessert (I’m sure many people love it, including ME^^). The texture of soymilk pudding is so smooth that when it slides down the throat, it creates a great temptation. Not only the Chinese, but even the Malays have started to love this dessert. I’ve seen many Malay hawkers selling soymilk pudding.
Soymilk pudding(Tau Fu Fa)
For those who are not familiar to soymilk pudding...
Soymilk pudding or sometimes referred to as tofu pudding is made from coagulated soy bean milk, served with sugar syrup. Soymilk pudding is usually served hot or cold.
Delicious Soymilk pudding served with brown sugar
Do you know?
As mentioned earlier, soymilk pudding is made from COAGULATED soy bean milk. Have you thought of this, what makes soy bean milk coagulate?
The answer is GYPSUM POWDER. Gypsum powder is used traditionally to coagulate soy bean milk and till now, gypsum powder plays the same role.
GYPSUM POWDER (one of the main ingredient in making soy milk pudding)
GYPSUM POWDER that coagulates soymilk pudding
What is GYPSUM POWDER?
Have u heard of gypsum powder? What is gypsum actually? Another name for gypsum (which I feel chemistry student will be familiar with) will be calcium sulphate. Gypsum powder is the most common sulphate mineral, characterized by the chemical formula of CaSO4 · 2H2O. Gypsum is one of several evaporate minerals and this mineral groups are chlorides, carbonates, borates, nitrates and sulphate. These minerals precipitate in seas, lakes, caves and salt flats. When gypsum is heated or subjected to solutions with large salinities, gypsum will be converted to bassanite(CaSO4·H2O) or anhydrite(CaSO4).
Structure of GYPSUM
GYPSUM crystal
What are the uses of GYPSUM?
Guess what? Gypsum is used chiefly in manufacturing Plaster of Paris. Plaster of Paris is made by heating gypsum in air. A hemihydrates will formed when water of crystallization is driven off. When gypsum loses 75% of its water of crystallization, it forms Plaster of Paris.
Formation of PLASTER OF PARIS
Some example uses of PLASTER OF PARIS:
Statue made from PLASTER OF PARIS
PLASTER OF PARIS used in setting fractured bone
GYPSUM
Other uses of gypsum include .production of wallboard, in agriculture to loosen clay-rich soils, and in the manufacture of fertilizer.
Can you believe that gypsum powder that is used to manufacture Plaster of Paris is used to coagulate soymilk pudding? Many claim that soymilk pudding that uses gypsum powder as a coagulant bring negative effects to consumers. The negative effects include formation of kidney stone and backache.
Since soymilk pudding with gypsum powder has its drawback, soymilk pudding lover will not be able to enjoy the dessert anymore. Of course not! Besides gypsum powder, another coagulant can substitute the role of gypsum powder. The coagulant mentioned is referred to as GDL (glucono delta-lactone).
GDL?
An acidic type of coagulant, GDL (glucono delta-lactone) is a fine, white, odourless crystalline powder. It dissolves easily in water and is sparingly soluble in alcohol. It hydrolyses to gluconic acid in water. GDL is prepared by direct crystallization from the aqueous solution of gluconic acid, which is the active agent as acidulant. Likewise, for the coagulation of soymilk pudding, gluconic acid is the active coagulating agent.
GDL
Chemical Structure of GDL
Huge bag of GDL
Hmm...What are the uses of GDL?
GDL is used widely in coagulating tofu (beancurd) especially in Japan. Coagulation of the soy protein in soy milk is the most important step in manufacturing tofu. The protein in soy milk is mostly soluble at a neutral pH but insoluble in acidic state or in the presence or alkaline elements. The gradual acidification produced by GDL initiates the curdling of the protein in soy milk. GDL coagulates soymilk to form silken tofu. Compared to the other type of coagulatants, GDL gives the best texture on the basis of smoothness.
Tofu(beancurd) that uses GDL as coagulant
Same goes to soymilk pudding, GDL plays the same role like how it coagulates tofu. Like what gypsum powder does, GDL gives the same effect and smoothness to the soymilk pudding. GDL does not bring negative effects like gypsum powder. Therefore, Soymilk lover have no worries in enjoying the excellent dessert anymore.^^
Acne appears to be a disaster to many teenagers. To some, it is a nightmare to have acne that truly gives unfavourable effects. It lowers a person’s self esteem and confidents, making them feel embarrassed to their friends, partners, families or even anyone else.
We HATE acne!!!!!!!!
Arrgghh.....Pimples!!!
How Acne Forms?
The formation of acne is due to disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which is made up of a hair follicle. Each of the hair follicle is connected to a sebaceous gland that secretes sebum. Sebum is essential to keep the skin moisturized. However, when unhealthy skin is clogged with dead skin, the sebum produced will not be able to secrete out from the skin pore and the sebum will be trapped in the pores. When this happens, a bacteria, known as Propionibacterium acnes infects the sebum and multiplies inside. The whiteness of an acne lesion is the pus formed by the dead white blood cells that fight the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. Acne first develops into whitehead or blackhead, soon develops into pimples and finally worsen into cysts and nodules. If acne is not treated properly, the recovered acne will leave scars on the skin
Propionibacterium ACNE
Acne Treatment
I remembered once I was attracted to an advertisement. What makes me attracted is that the advertisement was promoting the new formulation of acne treatment cream and the main formula used is benzoyl peroxide. It was the OXY 5 advertisement. I was curious that how benzoyl peroxide plays its role to treat acne. Thus, I did some research and I decided to make it one of my posting for my chemistry assignment. ^^
Get to know Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is an organic compound that belongs to the organic peroxide family. The structure of benzoyl peroxide consists of two benzoyl group linked by aperoxide chain. It has the structural formulaof (C6H5CO)2O2. Benzoyl peroxide is also known as dibenzoyl peroxide.
Structure of Benzoyl Peroxide
Usage of benzoyl peroxide : It acts as polymerization initiators for ethylene, vinylacetate, acrylates and unsaturated polyesters. It is used as a catalyst in oxidation and sulfonation reactions. It is also used in bleaching, disinfectant, drying, and cleaning agent. Benzoyl peroxide also acts as an oxidizing agent.
Synthesis of benzoyl peroxide : Benzoyl peroxide is usually prepared by treating hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl chloride.
2 C6H5C(O)Cl + BaO2 → [C6H5C(O)]2O2 + BaCl2
How benzoyl peroxide works in treating acne?
Due to the properties of benzoyl peroxide as an oxidizing agent, benzoyl peroxide works best in treating acne. The release of oxygen from benzoyl peroxide provides an important application to use as a treatment for acne. The released oxygen penetrates the skin layer and creates an oxygen rich(aerobic) environment in the skin. This condition is unfavourable for bacteria to live and the bacteria will eventually dies. The bacteria here is refer to the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria as mentioned earlier. The reduction on the number of bacteria reduces the occurrence of acne outbreaks. The ability of benzoyl peroxide to help rid of the follicle of excess dead skin makes it effective in acne treatment formulas. Clearing the pore on the skin will lessen the chance of pore blockages and eventually acne will reduces.
Fight!!!! Fight!!!
Bacteria are DEAD!
Benzoyl peroxide, which is also a bleaching agent may bleach fabrics and hairs. Therefore, make sure that the application of benzoyl peroxide cream is drybefore exposing skin surface to fabrics and hair.
Possible side effects of benzoyl peroxide:
(Note the instruction on the product before using to minimize the possibility of unwanted side effects)
Acne treatments that contain Benzoyl Peroxide:
What Are Alcohols?
Alcohols are organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl (OH) groups bounded to carbon atoms. On ingredient labels, an alcohol usually ends with "ol" (ethanol, SD alcohol, panthenol). The solubility of alcohols in both water and oil determine their characteristic. The solubility of alcohol is influenced by the length of its carbon chain. Alcohol with short carbon chain tends to evaporate quickly, taking water with it. Meanwhile, alcohol with long carbon chain will hinder evaporation and hold water down. In some special cases, alcohols with short carbon chain that have unique chemical configuration will actually have great moisturizing effect instead of being harsh.
Alcohol
Say YES or NO to Alcohol?
Have a look on the list of ingredients on your skin care products. You will find the most common type of alcohols that present are ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol and SD-Alcohol 40. What are the different functions of different type of alcohols in skin care products? What are their effects? Are they beneficial for our skin? Many people have bad thoughts for alcohols in skin care products. Yes, some of them definitely bring more harms than good. In fact, alcohols that harm are only a small portion from the big family of alcohol. Alcohols in skin care products are classified into fatty alcohol and harsh alcohol. Harsh alcohol definitely harms while fatty alcohol is friendly.
Why NO to Alcohol?
As the name implies, harsh alcohols are definitely unfriendly and they are the alcohols that we should avoid when it comes to our skin care products. These types of alcohols that serve as antibacterial bring a negative effect to the skin. They cause skin to become extremely dry.Besides, the low molecular weight of harsh alcohols makes them evaporate quickly from the surface of the skin. When they evaporate, they tend to bring moisture away from the skin surface.
The harsh alcohols that we should concern are ethanol, ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and SD alcohol. Someone will surely wonder what a SD alcohol is? SD alcohol stands for specially denatured alcohol. Alcohols are denatured so that they are unsafe for consumption. Examples of SD alcohol are SD alcohol 23-A, SD alcohol 40 and SD Alcohol 4-B. These types of alcohols have the fewest number of carbon among the other type of alcohols which cause rapid evaporation. That is why skin becomes dry and irritated.
Examples of harsh alcohols:
Benzyl alcohol
Ethanol
Methanol
Why YES to Alcohol?
When a product is labelled ‘Alcohol Free’, it does not mean that the product does not contain any alcohol at all. It indicates that the product does not contain any of the harsh alcohols that harm the skin. Instead, the product itself contains fatty alcohols which have much different effects on the skin. Fatty alcohols which are friendly help to enhance the moisturizing effect of a product and act as humectants( substances that hold moistures). Examples of fatty alcohols that help skin care formulation to act as efficient skin care products are:
Fatty alcohol
Examples of fatty alcohols that help skin care formulation to act as efficient skin care products are:
Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl alcohol is derived from coconut oil. It acts as an effective emollient (substances that make the skin soft) in skin care products and stabilizes skin care formulations. Cetyl alcohol in skin care products has an ability to hold moisture by forming a layer of protective barrier on the skin to prevent water loss from the skin surface. Cetyl alcohol are often included in hand creams, lotions, foundations, lipsticks and mascaras.
Cetyl alcohol
Molecular formula: CH3(CH2)15OH
Stearyl Alcohol
Like cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol is also extracted from coconut oil. Being an emollient, stearyl alcohol is also an emulsifier. Steary alcohol works like cetyl alcohol in skin formulations. Products that contain stearyl alcohol include creams, lubricants, depilatories and conditioners.
Stearyl alcohol
Molecular Formula C18H38O other name:O
Cetearyl Alcohol
Cetearyl alcohol which is derived from natural oils and fats, acts as an emulsifying wax to soften thick formulas like skin oilments. As an emollient, cetearyl alcohol brings great effect in stabilizing skin care formulations. Cetearyl alcohol can be found in water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, anhydrous formulations, cleansers, permanent hair color, face creams, eye make-up and sunblocks.
Cetearyl alcohol
Molecular Formula:C16H34O
Lanolin Alcohol
Lanolin alcohol is derived from the sebaceous glands of sheep’s wool. Therefore, it causes allergy and sensitivity on skin. However, the usage of lanolin alcohol in the right amount will be an excellent emollient. Lanolin alcohol is widely used in moisturizers, sunscreen, shaving creams and cosmetics.
Tocopherol is an excellent emollient that gives a great moisturizing effect to the skin. Besides, it acts as an antioxidant too.
Tocopherol
Alcohol..Love it or hate it?
As mentioned earlier, not all alcohols are harmful. So, be smart when choosing the right skin care products. Read the LABELS! It’s time to make friends with fatty alcohols and avoid harsh alcohols.
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