Chemistry For Your Life

Ask a Chemist #66

Melissa and Jam dive into a range of listener-submitted questions exploring everyday chemistry. Topics include the chemistry behind toasting herbs, the effect of gravity on elemental bonds, the purpose and ethics of creating elements with short half-lives, and the effectiveness of cough medicine. They also discuss potential causes of mysterious holes in clothing, the debate on food dyes, and the impact of politics on scientific research funding. The hosts wrap up by addressing various listener questions and sharing some heartwarming and supportive messages from their audience.

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00:00 Introduction

01:24 Toasting Herbs: The Chemistry Behind the Flavor

03:05 Gravity's Role in Chemical Bonding

06:44 The Ethics of Creating New Elements

10:17 How Cough Medicine Works

13:06 The Debate on Food Dyes

15:57 The Yellow Cheese Phenomenon

16:35 Colorful Ceviche and Natural Foods

17:58 Chemistry Hot Takes and Listener Questions

19:03 Cleaning Lab Counters and Acid Holes

21:10 Listener Feedback and Podcast Reflections

25:33 Impact of Politics on Science Funding

29:19 Encouraging Messages from Listeners

30:40 Supporting the Podcast and Final Thanks

References from this episode:

1. https://www.rsc.org/news-events/community/2017/jan/new-elements/

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather R


• Autoclave


• Chelsea M


• Dorien VD


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• 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 and Claire S


• Chelsea B


• Avishai B


• Hunter R

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#209

Melissa and Jam dive into the fascinating chemistry behind how plants transport water from their roots to their leaves, effectively defying gravity. They explore processes such as capillary action and the cohesion tension mechanism, citing a primary source from Nature journal. Melissa and Jam also touch on key chemistry concepts like water polarity, hydrogen bonding, and osmosis, providing examples from everyday life. Jam shares a personal story about germinating an apple seed with his son, while Melissa discusses her adventures in native plant gardening. The episode concludes with a shoutout to their Patreon supporters and details on upcoming Chemistry for Your Life merch.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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00:00 Introduction and Tea Talk

00:17 Plants Defying Gravity

01:05 Welcome to Chemistry for Your Life

01:20 Listener Question: Chemistry of Pregnancy Tests

02:11 Capillary Action in Everyday Life

03:57 Personal Stories and Plant Enthusiasm

05:15 Chemistry Lessons: Water Polarity and Hydrogen Bonds

10:32 Water Transport in Plants: Xylem and Capillary Action

16:00 Transpiration and Water Loss in Plants

23:32 Curiosity About Soil and Water Content

24:23 Water Movement in Trees

26:53 Understanding Osmosis

28:37 Practical Applications of Osmosis

31:12 Capillary Action and Plant Water Transport

33:15 Fun Plant Stories and Experiments

41:11 Supporting the Show and Community

References from this episode:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856711009531


2. https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-82-3.pdf


3. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/23026007/


4. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revoke-authorization-use-red-no-3-food-and-ingested-drugs


5. https://cen.acs.org/food/food-ingredients/FDA-bans-red3-food-drugs/103/web/2025/01


6. https://www.acs.org/education/chemmatters/past-issues/2015-2016/october-2015/articial-dyes.html


7. https://cen.acs.org/food/food-ingredients/Editorial-Fewer-risky-food-colors/102/i26


8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10502305/

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather R


• Autoclave


• Chelsea M


• Dorien VD


• 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 and Claire S


• Chelsea B


• Avishai B


• Hunter R

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

#098 Rebroadcast

Original Air Date: June 3, 2021

Could histamine and antihistamines do more than just affect our allergies? Actually yes. Today we discuss new and recent research in the world of histamine, and believe us, there's some really cool stuff.

References from this episode

1. https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/web/2013/06/Tracking-Histamine-Levels-Glowing-Nanosensors.html


2. https://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/12/Chemical-Cocktail-Lures-Bedbugs-Coaxes.html


3. https://cen.acs.org/pharmaceuticals/antibiotics/Common-allergy-drug-makes-resistant/97/i24


4. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05515


5. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/h/histamines.html


6. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.9b03300

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Ciara Linville


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• Jeannette Napoleon


• Cullyn R


• Erica Bee


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• Sarah Moar


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• Suzanne Phillips


• Nelly Silva


• Venus Rebholz


• Lyn Stubblefield


• Jacob Taber


• Brian Kimball


• Emerson Woodhall


• Kristina Gotfredsen


• Timothy Parker


• Steven Boyles


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• Bri McAllister


• Avishai Barnoy


• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#097 Rebroadcast

Most of us know the feeling. But what are we actually experiencing when we experience allergies? How does being around plants and pollen make us all sniffly? Why does this beautiful season have such a dark side? Let's find out.

References from this episode

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538528/


2. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/histamine/3005799.article


3. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/h/histamine.html


4. https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i19/Periodic-Graphics-Allergies-Antihistamines.html

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

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

#208

Melissa and Jam dive deep into the topic of FDA regulations, particularly focusing on food additives like red food dye. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's approval process, the Delaney Clause, and recent changes in the regulation of red dye number 3, which has been banned in response to cancer risks found in rats. They also delve into how other countries like the UK and Canada are ahead of the U.S. in reevaluating approved substances. The episode includes personal anecdotes and a discussion on the role of public awareness in influencing FDA policies. They wrap up with a lighthearted conversation about sprinkles and favorite dyed foods.

00:00 Introduction and FDA Discussion

00:36 Podcast Banter and Hat Story

02:42 FDA's Role and Food Additives

04:48 Red Food Dye Controversy

11:33 FDA Trustworthiness and Public Perception

18:29 Comparing Food Regulations: US vs. Canada

18:50 Trusting the FDA: A Personal Take

20:02 Challenges Faced by the FDA

20:56 Rebranding the FDA: A Fun Idea

22:16 Sprinkles and Donuts: A Sweet Debate

26:51 Favorite Dyed Foods

30:44 Podcast Wrap-Up and Community Shoutouts

References from this episode:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856711009531


2. https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-82-3.pdf


3. https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/23026007/


4. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revoke-authorization-use-red-no-3-food-and-ingested-drugs


5. https://cen.acs.org/food/food-ingredients/FDA-bans-red3-food-drugs/103/web/2025/01


6. https://www.acs.org/education/chemmatters/past-issues/2015-2016/october-2015/articial-dyes.html


7. https://cen.acs.org/food/food-ingredients/Editorial-Fewer-risky-food-colors/102/i26


8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10502305/

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 and Claire S


• Chelsea B


• Avishai B


• Hunter R

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife