Examples of Chemical Reactions in Everyday Life
Chemical reactions can happen
anywhere around us, not just in the laboratory. Matter interacts to form new
products through a process called chemical reactions or chemical changes. Every
time we cook or are cleaning, it is also a chemical in action. Our bodies live
and grow thanks to chemical reactions. There are reactions when we take drugs,
light a match, and take a breath. Here are some examples of chemical reactions
in daily life. This is just a small example, because we see and experience
hundreds of thousands or even more chemical reactions every day.
1.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other
organisms to convert light energy, usually from the Sun, into a chemical energy
that can then be liberated to fuel organism activity. This
chemical energy is stored in carbohydrate molecules, such as sugars, which are
synthesized from carbon dioxide and water. In
most cases, oxygen is also produced as a waste product. Most
plants, mostly algae, and cyanobacteria do photosynthesis, and these organisms
are called photoautotrophs. Photosynthesis
maintains atmospheric oxygen levels and supplies all organic compounds and most
of the energy needed for life on Earth.
Briefly, plants use a chemical reaction called
photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into food (glucose) and
oxygen. It
is one of the most common daily chemical reactions and also one of the most
important, because this is how plants produce food for themselves and animals
and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
2. Aerobic Cell Respiration
Aerobic cellular
respiration is the reverse process of photosynthesis in molecular energy
coupled with the oxygen we breathe to release the energy needed by our cells
plus carbon dioxide and water. The energy used by cells is the chemical energy
in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
Aerobic
respiration requires oxygen to produce ATP. Although carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins are consumed as reactants, it is the preferred method of breaking
pyruvate in glycolysis and requiring pyruvate to enter the mitochondria to be
completely oxidized by the Krebs cycle. The products of this process are carbon
dioxide and water, but the energy transferred is used to break strong bonds in
ADP as a third phosphate group is added to form ATP, by substrate level
phosphorylation, NADH and FADH2
Here is the
overall equation for aerobic cell respiration:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 →
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (36 ATPs)
3.
Anaerobic Respiration
In contrast to
aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration represents a set of chemical
reactions that allow cells to gain energy from complex molecules without
oxygen. Cell muscles perform anaerobic respiration every time we get rid of
oxygen which then reaches them, like during intense or prolonged exercise.
Anaerobic respiration by yeast and bacteria used for fermentation, to produce
ethanol, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals that make cheese, wine, beer,
yogurt, bread, and many other common products.
The overall
chemical equation for one form of anaerobic respiration is:
C6H12O6 →
2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + energy
4.
Color Meat
There
are two types of meat: red and white. Red meat contains a highly pigmented
protein called myoglobin which stores oxygen in muscle cells. However, when the
meat is heated, the protein breaks down and shrinks in size.
When
the temperature in the meat reaches 170 ° F, the level of hemichrome (a brown
compound) increases, and myoglobin becomes methyoglobin, which gives a
gray-brown color to the flesh. White meat contains glycogen, which has a clear
quality when raw. When it is cooked, the protein joins, or thickens, and the
flesh becomes opaque and whitish.
5.
Apples turn brown
Apples
contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO), also known as tyrosinase.
Cutting apples shows cells that react to atmospheric oxygen and oxidize
phenolic compounds present in apples. This is called enzymatic browning that
changes the brown apples when cut. In addition to apples, enzymatic browning is
also seen in bananas, pears, avocados and even potatoes.
6.
Crying and Onion
When
you cut the onions you damage the cells that form the inner layer of the onion,
thereby releasing an alliinase enzyme that reacts with a sulfur-containing
compound known as 'prensco', which is also released while cutting.
The
result of this reaction is in the formation of 1-propenyl sulfenic acid. This
acid is subsequently converted to Propanethiol S-oxide, a volatile sulfur
compound, by the LF-synthase enzyme (meaning synthesis of lachrymatory Factor
enzyme).
This
gas, known as (crying factor) The lachrymatory factor, reacting with our tears
to form sulfuric acid causes a sore sensation in your eyes and towards the tear
glands to shed tears.
7.
Noda Removal
The
soap is formed by the reaction between alkali and fatty acids. It produces
molecules with one hydrophilic and one lipophilic end. Lipophilic ends stick
oil, oil or dirt. This can be removed by soap and drift with the flow of water,
leaving a clean surface. It's just a physical reaction that happens.
Soap
and stain cleaners act as emulsifiers that allow oil and water to mix and oily
mixtures and stains on the body and clothing can be removed after using soap,
stain and water removers.
8.
Fruit Maturation
A
simple hydrocarbon gas ethylene exchanges the genes necessary to stimulate the
secretion of a maturation enzyme that catalyzes the reaction to alter the
properties of the fruit.
Ethylene
channelizes are the actions of several other chemical reaction substances
called hydrolases, amylases, pectinases and kinases. These enzymes convert
starch into sugars, change cell walls to make them softer, neutralize acids and
cause fruit to emit aromas.
9.
Fermentation
Fermentation
is the conversion of complex substances to be simpler under anaerobic
conditions. The products of fermentation are driven by the type of
microorganisms that work on the substance when fermentation occurs.
Fermentation
products are alcohols or acids and the release of carbon dioxide. For example,
wine produced from fruit juice is alcohol as a result of fermentation by yeast,
while beer is the result of fermentation of wheat yeast. Antibiotics are
obtained by fermentation by mold and some bacteria. Yogurt, cheese and vinegar
are products of bacterial fermentation. The yeast is obtained by yeast
fermentation.
10.
Sunblock
Sunscreen
is a combination of organic and inorganic compounds. Inorganic chemical
reaction materials such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, form a barrier on
the body that reflects or transmits UV waves.
Organic
components such as octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) or oxybenzone absorb UV light
and release their energy as heat. It protects our skin from burning and harmful
effects such as cancer.
11.
The kutek removers
Nail
polish consists of three types of organic solvents and elements of drying,
thickening and hardening elements together with dye. Actually organic solvents
used as an ingredient in nail polish are acetone or ethyl acetate.
So
when you use a busting that will only bring it back to its original state.
Solvent molecules enter between the polymer chains and separate them, making it
easy to clean with cotton balls.
12.
Static Surprise
All
materials are made of electrical charge in atomic matter. There is an equal
number of electrons (negative charges) and protons (positive charges) that try
to balance each other in the universe.
Friction
between the two materials causes the cost to distribute. Electrons from one
atom will be transferred to another. As we know, like the cost of mutual
rejection and unlike the cost of attracting each other. Every time you touch
anything that is a good electrical conductor, an accumulated additional
electron transfer takes place, and gives you a static shock.
For
example, in general in winter, you get a shock when you get out of the car or
when you touch the door knob or filing cabinet.
Your
own body is a large chemical reaction plant in which one or another chemical
reactions take place at any time. Most people hate chemical reactions because
of the long reactions and names of the tough chemical reactions we see in
chemical books. However, taking a practical approach to understanding this
science, we encounter in everyday life, will help you appreciate even more.
