Chemistry For Your Life

What is gum? And what happens when you swallow it?
#200 In this episode Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating world of chewing gum. They start by discussing awkward combinations of food and gum, leading to an exploration of what gum is made of. The conversation covers the basics of gum composition, including the roles of sugar, flavor, and especially the gum base, which itself is made of polymers. They explain why gum doesn't dissolve in saliva and how flavors are eventually lost as they are absorbed by saliva. The hosts also talk about the environmental impact of gum and spotlight an innovative company that recycles used gum into new products. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes related to gum, enhancing the scientific discussion with engaging memories. 00:00 The Gum and Chocolate Dilemma 00:40 The Mystery of Natural vs. Unnatural Gum 01:07 Mint Preferences and Gum Curiosities 02:22 Introduction to the Chemistry of Gum 03:31 Podcast Introduction and Community Shoutouts 05:54 Teaching Experiences and Family Connections 08:50 Deep Dive into Gum Chemistry 22:13 The Science Behind Gum Flavor 23:08 Sugar-Free Gum and Flavor Retention 23:42 The Role of Chemists in Gum Production 24:37 Explaining Gum Chemistry 26:18 The Structure and Properties of Gum 29:47 Natural vs. Synthetic Gum 31:50 Recycling Gum: Gumdrop Limited 34:34 Gum in Our Digestive System 36:35 Gum-Related Memories 44:30 Conclusion and Listener Questions References from this episode: https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i14/Recycling-used-gum-cycling-through.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=CEN&hootPostID=9a9a878b967d568f13944bd2bd2fa649 https://gumdropltd.com/ https://cen.acs.org/articles/85/i32/Chewing-Gum.html?utm_source=InLine&utm_medium=InLine&utm_campaign=CEN https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-172/subpart-G/section-172.615 https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/secret-science-stuff/gum.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baC4iuD4gGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R6R_V9xkAo 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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★ Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
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47:39
Ask a Chemist: Why are crystals rare? (and other questions)
Question and Response 62 New College-Style Sweatshirt! In this special bonus episode of Chemistry for Your Life, Melissa and Jam dive into listener-submitted questions, covering everything from the rarity of crystals and the chemistry of sourdough to the science behind melting ice on roads in Canada. Along the way, they explore fun tangents about nostalgic movies, glow-in-the-dark nostalgia, and much more. It’s an eclectic mix of chemistry, pop culture, and community interaction! Thanks to our monthly supporters: Julie S. Heather R Autoclave Chelsea M Dorien V Scott B Jessie R Ciara L J0HNTR0Y Jeannette N Cullyn R Erica B Elizabeth P Sarah M Rachel R Letila Katrina B Suzanne P Venus R Lyn S Jacob T Brian K Emerson W Kristina G Timothy P Steven B Chris S Chelsea B Avishai B Hunter R ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★ Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
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28:59
Do carrots help us see better?
#199 In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry behind the popular belief that eating carrots improves night vision. They take a deep dive into the scientific processes, including how beta carotene from carrots is converted into vitamin A, then into rhodopsin, and how this helps with night vision. They also discuss the historical context of this belief, dating back to World War II propaganda, and expand their discussion to include other fall foods rich in beta carotene, such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes. The episode also touches on fun facts, personal anecdotes, and a special shout-out to a new community member. 00:00 Introduction to the Fun Chemistry Topic 00:17 The Carrot Myth and World War II Propaganda 01:19 Matching Outfits and Personal Stories 06:36 Shoutout to New Community Member 07:14 The Science Behind Carrots and Vision 26:22 Vitamin A and Night Vision 27:47 Explaining the Chemistry of Beta Carotene 29:07 The Process of Beta Carotene Conversion 30:27 Understanding Rhodopsin Formation 31:07 The Role of Vitamin A in Vision 41:29 Fun Facts and Fall Foods 48:56 Supporting the Podcast and Community 50:11 Acknowledging Supporters and Conclusion References from this episode: Organic chemistry by David R. Klein https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-wwii-propaganda-campaign-popularized-the-myth-that-carrots-help-you-see-in-the-dark-28812484/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-wwii-propaganda-campaign-popularized-the-myth-that-carrots-help-you-see-in-the-dark-28812484/ https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/beta-carotene/3005712.article https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2181967#:~:text=The%20key%20step%20in%20vitamin,of%20all%2Dtrans%2Dretinal. 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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★ Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
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51:54
What makes honey crystallize?
#055 Rebroadcast Ever notice that honey crystalizes? Isn't that like super weird? Why does it do that? This week, Melissa and Jam risk getting stuck in this question. References from this episode https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884753/ https://www.usda.gov/codex https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/PDF---Guidance-for-Industry--Proper-Labeling-of-Honey-and-Honey-Products.pdf Honey: Chemical composition, stability and authenticity, da Silva et. Al https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.09.051 Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at [email protected] And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva 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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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33:54
How do things glow in the dark?
#198 In this special Halloween episode Melissa and Jam explore the spooky yet fascinating world of glow-in-the-dark chemistry. The discussion delves into nostalgic aspects of Halloween, focusing particularly on phosphorescence and the forbidden transitions that cause electrons to glow. The chemistry behind these glowing phenomena is explained with engaging analogies, making complex concepts more accessible. They also share their favorite glow-in-the-dark items from childhood, connecting science with personal memories. The episode is a fun and informative dive into the eerie light of glow-in-the-dark materials. 00:00 Spooky Halloween Introduction 00:42 The Science of Glow in the Dark 05:07 Understanding Electron Excitation 16:10 The Forbidden Transition 20:25 Exploring Electron Excitation 21:41 Forbidden Transitions and Rare Materials 22:21 Space Analogies and Electron Behavior 24:35 Creative Analogies for Electron States 26:02 Recap and Detailed Explanation 33:06 Glow-in-the-Dark Nostalgia 39:24 Listener Engagement and Support References from this episode: https://www.eia.gov/kids/for-teachers/lesson-plans/pdfs/GlowInTheDarkSecondary.pdf https://youtu.be/V32ex9eCFHI https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/strontium-aluminate/3008606.article https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/z/zinc-sulfide.html Physical Chemistry by Levine, 6th edition 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 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★ Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
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42:14

A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life. Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life! In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating. If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.

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