THE MOLECULES AROUND MEBy Calvin Dam

CATEGORY A Name: Mountain Dew Description: A carbonated soft drink. Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated

Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Erythorbic Acid, Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium Edta, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5.

COMPOUND 1 – SODIUM BENZOATE Molecular Formula: NaC7H5O2

Organic, because it contains carbons Summary: Sodium benzoate is a preservative. It is most widely used in acidic foods

such as salad dressings (vinegar), carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), jams and fruit juices (citric acid), pickles (vinegar), and condiments. It is also used as a preservative in medicines and cosmetics.

COMPOUND 2 – SODIUM CITRATE

Molecular Formula: Na3C6H5O7

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Sodium citrate is sometimes used as an acidity

regulator in drinks, and also as an emulsifier for oils when making cheese.

COMPOUND 3 – ERYTHORBIC ACID

Molecular Formula: C6H8O6

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Erythorbic acid is a vegetable-derived food additive produced

from sucrose, and is widely used as an antioxidant in processed foods

COMPOUND 4 – CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA

Molecular Formula: C10H16N2O8

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: It is widely used to dissolve limescale. Its usefulness arises

because of its role as a hexadentate ("six-toothed") ligand and chelating agent, i.e. its ability to "sequester" metal ions.

COMPOUND 5 – CITRIC ACID Molecular Formula: C6H8O7

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: It is a natural preservative/conservative and is also used to add

an acidic or sour taste to foods and drinks. In biochemistry, the conjugate base of citric acid, citrate, is important as an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in the metabolism of all aerobic organisms.

CATEGORY B Name: Tylenol Extra Strength Description: Is a pain relieve and fever reducer. Ingredients: Active Ingredients: Acetaminophen. Inactive Ingredients:

Carnauba Wax, Castor Oil, Corn Starch, FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Polyethylene Glycol, Powdered Cellulose, Pregelatinized Starch Propylene Glycol, Shellac, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Titanium Dioxide.

COMPOUND 1 - ACETAMINOPHEN

Molecular Formula: C8H9NO2 

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: It is commonly used for the relief of headaches and other minor

aches and pains and is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu remedies.

COMPOUND 2 - MAGNESIUM STEARATE Molecular Formula: Mg(C18H35O2)2 Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Magnesium stearate is often used as a anti-adherent in the

manufacture of medical tablets, capsules and powders.

COMPOUND 3 - POWDERED CELLULOSE

Molecular Formula: (C6H10O5)n Non-Organic, because it does not contain carbon. Summary: Cellulose is mainly used to produce paperboard and paper.

Smaller quantities are converted into a wide variety of derivative products such as cellophane and rayon. Conversion of cellulose from energy crops into biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol is under investigation as an alternative fuel source.

COMPOUND 4 – TITANIUM DIOXIDE Molecular Formula: TiO2 Non-Organic, because it does not contain carbon. Summary: The most important application areas are paints

and varnishes as well as paper and plastics. Other pigment applications like printing inks, fibers, rubber, cosmetic products and foodstuffs.

COMPOUND 5 - GLYCOLATE

Molecular Formula: C2H4O3

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Glycolate is used in the textile industry as a dyeing and tanning

agent, in food processing as a flavoring agent and as a preservative, and in the pharmaceutical industry as a skin care agent..

CATEGORY C Name: Epiduo Description: A cream used to treat acne. Ingredients: Adapalene, Benzoyl Peroxide, Acrylamide/sodium

acryloydimethyltaurate copolymer, docusate sodium, edetate disodium, glycerin, isohexadecane, poloxamer 124, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, purified water, sorbitan oleate.

COMPOUND 1 - ADAPALENE

Molecular Formula: C28H28O3 

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Adapalene is a third-generation topical retinoid primarily used in

the treatment of mild-moderate acne and is also used (off-label) to treat keratosis pilaris as well as other skin conditions.

COMPOUND 2 – BENZOYL PEROXIDE

Molecular Formula: C14H10O4

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Benzoyl peroxide is used as an acne treatment, for improving

flour, for bleaching hair and teeth, for polymerising polyester and many other uses.

COMPOUND 3 – DOCUSATE SODIUM

Molecular Formula: C20H37NaO7S

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Docusate is used to make stools softer and easier

to pass. It is also used as an emulsifying, wetting, and dispersing agent, as a pesticide.

COMPOUND 4 - GLYCERIN Molecular Formula: C3H8O3

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: In foods and beverages, glycerol serves as a humectant, solvent,

and sweetener, and may help preserve foods. Glycerol is used in medical and pharmaceutical and personal care preparations, mainly as a means of improving smoothness, providing lubrication and as a humectant.

COMPOUND 5 – PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Molecular Formula: C3H8O2

Organic, because it contains carbon. Summary: Propylene glycol lowers the freezing point of water

owing to the effects of dissolution of a solute in a solvent.