#196

New College-Style Sweatshirt!

Melissa and Jam delve into the science behind ibuprofen, exploring why it takes around 30 minutes to work. The discussion covers the chemistry of ibuprofen, including the concept of chiral molecules and enantiomers—molecules with mirror-image forms—highlighting how only one form of ibuprofen works effectively. The episode explains why both forms are included in the medication due to production challenges and discusses recent findings about ibuprofen's potential in cancer treatment. Additionally, the show features various fun facts about ibuprofen, aspirin comparisons, environmentally friendly production methods, and more.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
05:07 Chemistry Lesson: Handedness of Molecules
17:52 Ibuprofen's Chiral Nature and Its Effects
19:15 The Racemic Mixture of Ibuprofen
24:06 The Wastefulness of Chemistry
24:29 Challenges of Purifying Enantiomers
25:16 Economic and Environmental Considerations
26:28 Understanding Ibuprofen's Handedness
27:26 The Debate on Enantiomer Separation
34:45 Fun Facts About Ibuprofen
39:55 Green Chemistry and Ibuprofen
45:42 Community and Closing Remarks

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4276492/
2. https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TPWKY-Episode-29-Aspirin.pdf
3. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/ibuprofen/4011375.article
4. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/bi010045s?ref=article_openPDF
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355401/ 6. Garret & Grisham Biochemistry Textbook

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

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Question and Response #60

New College-Style Sweatshirt!

In this episode of 'Ask a Chemist' on the Chemistry for Your Life podcast, hosts Melissa and Jam tackle a diverse range of fun and fascinating chemistry questions. Topics include the differences between oxygen in water and air, the properties of jello, the mystery behind glitter, and the impact of pasteurization on milk safety. The episode also addresses more complex inquiries such as infrared spectroscopy and the oxidative stability of whole grain flour.

00:00 Introduction to Ask a Chemist
02:39 The Pasteurization Question
08:51 What Makes Jello Jello?
10:06 Oxygen in Water vs. Air
12:40 The Mystery of Glitter
15:46 Infrared Spectroscopy and Northern Lights
18:29 Oxidation in Flour
22:17 Collagen and Muscle Building
26:06 Listener Reviews and Closing Remarks

1. https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/l.vanloon

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Autoclave
• Chelsea M
• Dorien V
• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

#195

New College-Style Sweatshirt!

In this episode of Chemistry For Your Life, hosts Melissa and Jam delve into the science behind ibuprofen, a common pain reliever. They discuss the role of prostaglandins in inflammation, how ibuprofen inhibits the cox enzyme to reduce pain, and the body's natural immune response. They also share personal anecdotes about meeting listeners, their favorite types of ibuprofen, and explore plans for future episodes about other pain relievers.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote
01:00 Meet the Hosts
01:11 Exciting Announcements
02:46 Listener Shoutout
05:41 Understanding Pain and Inflammation
06:48 The Role of Prostaglandins
14:38 How Ibuprofen Works
18:15 Personal Experiences with Pain
21:16 Preview of Next Episode
22:10 Understanding Pain and Inflammation
23:07 The Role of Prostaglandins
24:50 Enzymes and Their Functions
27:11 How Ibuprofen Works
35:11 Personal Experiences with Ibuprofen
40:42 Supporting the Show and Final Thoughts

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4276492/
2. https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TPWKY-Episode-29-Aspirin.pdf
3. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/ibuprofen/4011375.article
4. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/bi010045s?ref=article_openPDF
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355401/ 6. Garret & Grisham Biochemistry Textbook

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

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#060

Chances are you've heard the word "fluoride" said in reference to your teeth. At the dentists office, on your bottle of mouthwash, maybe you've heard it's in tap water? But what is it, what's so special about it, and how does it help our teeth? Does it make them whiter, stronger, or what? Let's find out.

References from this episode

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/la4008558
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/fluoride-superhero
3. General Chemistry 2nd edition Flowers, Theopold, Langley, Robinson

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Autoclave
• Chelsea Morelos
• Dorien Vdb
• Scott Beyer
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#194

In this episode of Chemistry for Your Life, Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind modern dental fillings. They explore how dentists use a combination of organic monomers and inorganic fillers to address cavities and the role of light-activated photoinitiators in hardening these materials. Melissa also shares her personal experiences and recent achievements, introduces new community members, and compares amusing dental scenes in pop culture.

00:00 Introduction and Dentist Experiences
00:38 Chemistry in Everyday Life
02:11 Community Updates and Announcements
04:44 Understanding Dental Fillings
08:39 The Science Behind Polymerization
19:08 The Role of Light in Dental Fillings
26:01 The Reaction Begins
26:22 Mixing Dental Materials
27:47 Personal Dental Experiences
30:51 Understanding Polymerization
35:42 Photo Initiators and Family Tangents
43:12 Pop Culture Dentist Moments
48:35 Wrapping Up and Community Shoutouts

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/ed076p1497?ref=article_openPDF
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7867280/

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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Question and Response #59

Reddit's Chemistry Questions Answered In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam dive into Reddit to answer chemistry-related questions. They explore why ice in a fizzy drink causes more fizz, how stainless steel removes onion smells from hands, when to email professors for recommendation letters, and discuss a controversial prank by an organic chemistry professor. The hosts provide insightful and engaging explanations while also sharing personal anecdotes and practical advice for students.

00:00 Introduction to Reddit Chemistry Questions
00:55 Why Does Ice Make Fizzy Drinks Fizz More?
03:09 How Does Stainless Steel Remove Onion Smell?
06:53 When to Email Professors About Recommendation Letters
10:19 Am I the Jerk for Pranking My Students?
23:06 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Chelsea M
• Dorien V
• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#193

In this episode of Chemistry for Your Life, hosts Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry of milk, focusing on the differences between raw and pasteurized milk. They discuss the processes of pasteurization and homogenization, how they affect the nutritional content of milk, and answer listener questions about raw milk's spoilage, nutritional values, and bacteria. The episode also highlights important safety considerations associated with consuming raw milk and addresses common misconceptions. The hosts also shout out their Patreon supporters and encourage others to join their community.

00:00 Introduction to Milk and Pasteurization
00:53 Listener Questions and Raw Milk Discussion
01:53 Shoutout to Patreon Member Scott B
02:38 Deep Dive into Pasteurization
05:29 Chemistry Lesson: Proteins and Pasteurization
22:27 Heating Milk at Home
23:30 Raw Milk: Myths and Facts
25:02 Pasteurization and Nutritional Content
29:22 Risks of Drinking Raw Milk
32:21 Homogenization Explained
38:18 Milk Hot Takes and Fun Facts
43:14 Conclusion and Community Shoutouts

1. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/as/as-612-w.pdf
2. https://winnebago.extension.wisc.edu/2020/12/08/the-dangers-of-raw-milk/
3. https://realrawmilkfacts.com/raw-milk-news/sdsu-extension-raw-milk-and-home-pasteurization
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/pasteurization
5. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/22054181/
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X22128449?via%3Dihub
7. https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7945sci2.html
8. https://youtu.be/LFKVKshX5tQ
9. https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/updates-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

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#071 Rebroadcast

It's time to crack into one of life's great mysteries: eggs. So what happens when we cook them?! How do they go from clear goo to white jiggle? This is a question we received long ago, and with topics this serious, we don't yoke around. So we waited until we could bring in an eggsperienced egg chef, Jason Cress, to figure out this topic with us. In Jam's opinion, Jason's insight on the topic of eggs just can't be beat. We know many of you guys may be busy with some (hopefully safe) version of Thanksgiving, but despite the holiday we couldn't pass on the chance to shell out another episode for you guys, especially for our friends around the world, who are just experiencing a regular ol' Thursday today. Well without further ado, let's ap-poach this mystery together.

References from this episode

1. Biochemistry Garret & Grisham Fourth Edition
2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00319
3. https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/scibytes/why_do_eggs_hardboil/
4. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/breaking-proteins
5. https://chicagoacs.org/articles/126

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Scott B
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife