Molecules Around Me

By: Rachel Rowley

Food and Nutritional Supplements: Tang

Tang is a powdered orange drink mix similar to orange
juice.
Ingredients: Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial
Flavors, Ascorbic Acid(vitamin c), Maltodextrin,
Calcium Phosphate, Guar and Xanthan Gums,
Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Artificial Color, Yellow
5, Yellow 6, BHA (Photobucket.com and
https://a2ua.com/tang/img-007.php?pic=/tang/tang-007.jpg)

Sugar: C H O
12

22

11

Sugar, or sucrose, is the main ingredient in Tang. It is

used to sweeten the drink. We get sugar by extracting
from sugarcane or sugar beets and purifying it to
consume. Having excess sugar in your diet has been
found to increase your risk of heart disease.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose,
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eating-too-much-added-sugar-increas
es-the-risk-of-dying-with-heart-disease-201402067021)

Citric Acid: C H O
6

Citric Acid is what gives Tang its sour tartness

and is mainly used as a flavoring. If too much
Citric Acid is ingested it can cause stomach
aches or cramps. It will also irritate skin and
eyes if they come in contact.
(https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-citric-acid-d
-structure-weak-which-used-as-natural-preservative-conser
vative-also-used-to-add-acidic-sour-image50435667,
http://www.livestrong.com/article/327212-what-products-co
ntain-citric-acid/)

Ascorbic Acid(Vitamin C): C H O

6

Ascorbic Acid is commonly used as an antioxidant in

foods. Scurvy is a disease caused by lack of
Vitamin C, so for sailors(whom it was very common
with) foods with this in it were very important. If
inhaled or exposed to skin and eyes it can be and
irritan. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascorbic_acid,
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0379.html)

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate: Na H P O

2

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate is often

used as a leavening agent in foods,
and also to preserve colors in food. It
is recognized as a generally safe food
additive with little to no side effects.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/
5/50/Disodium_pyrophosphate.png,https://en.wikip
edia.org/wiki/Disodium_pyrophosphate)

Calcium Phosphate: Ca(H PO )

2

Calcium Phosphate is used to regulate acid

in foods and to keep clumps from forming in
powders. If extremely high amounts are
ingested it will cause nausea but is for the
most part very safe.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com
mons/a/a8/Dicalcium_phosphate.png,
http://www.food-info.net/uk/e/e341.htm)

4 2

Healthcare and Medicinal Products: Sunscreen

Sunscreen is used to block out harmful UV rays that
can cause damage to skin.
Ingredients: Avobenzone, Meradimate,
Aminobenzoic Acid, Cinoxate, Ensulizole,
Homosalate, Octocrylene, Octinoxate, Octisalate,
Padimate O, Trolamine Salicylate, Dioxybenzone,
Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Titanium Dioxide,
Zinc Oxide.
(http://www.neutrogena.com/category/customer+servic
e/sunscreen+safety.do, amazon.com)

Titanium Dioxide: TiO

Titanium Dioxide is used to block out and

absorb light. It is believed that some forms of
it can cause DNA damage, but most forms
are totally safe and the best option in
sunscreens.
(http://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/titanium-dioxi
de-sunscreen-can-change-dna,http://www.ddwcolor.com/n
atural-colours/titanium-dioxide/)

Zinc Oxide: ZnO

Zinc Oxide is used to scatter and deflect harmful
UV rays. Exposure to Zinc Oxide can cause metal
fume fever. This would only occur after high
exposure, but in sunscreen it is highly unlikely.
(https://www.badgerbalm.com/s-33-zinc-oxide-suns
creen-nanoparticles.aspx,http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rt
kweb/documents/fs/2037.pdf,https://www.scbt.com/
scbt/product/zinc-oxide-1314-13-2 )

Dioxybenzone: C H O
14

12

Dioxybenzone is used to block UVA and UVB

rays. It has been linked to allergies, hormone
disruption, and cell damage.
(https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/dioxybenzone#
section=Top, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioxybenzone,
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/5-dangero
us-chemicals-in-sunscreen/)

Aminobenzoic Acid: C H NO
7

Aminobenzoic Acid is used in sunscreen as a

UVB absorber. It is toxic to dogs and can cause
allergic reactions but for the most part does not
have any huge health hazards.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-Aminobenzoic_acid#/media/File:4
-Aminobenzoic_acid.svg,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-Aminobe
nzoic_acid)

Cinoxate: C H O
14

18

Cinoxate also blocks/absorbs UV rays by turning it into infrared

radiation, which is less harmful. It can cause dry skin, and rarely it will
cause skin irritation or acne. Overall it is very safe and useful.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinoxate#/media/File:Cinoxate.svg,http://www.cosmeticsinfo
.org/ingredient/cinoxate-0,http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-76285/cinoxate-topical/de
tails/list-sideeffects )

Personal Hygiene and Cleaning Products: Ajax

Ajax is a cleaning powder that is used on sinks,
bathtubs, counters, and other hard surfaces.
Ingredients: Sodium Carbonate, Calcium
Carbonate, Sodium Benzenesulfonate, unspecified
quality control agents, anionic surfactants, Fragrance,
Sodium Hypochlorite, Symclosene, Colors.
(http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/2235-AjaxPowderCleanserwithBl
each,http://www.target.com/p/ajax-powder-cleanser-with-bleach-28-oz
/-/A-13960390)

Sodium Carbonate: Na CO
2

Sodium Carbonate is used in cleaners to

disinfect, soften water, and break down grease.
It is regarded as generally safe to use, but is
known to irritate skin and eyes if it comes into
contact with them.
(https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate,http://gre
encleaning.about.com/od/CleaningChemicals/fl/Sodium-Carbo
nate-Definition-Safety-Cleaning-Uses-amp-More.htm)

Calcium Carbonate: CaCO

Calcium Carbonate is used as an abrasive in

cleaners to get extra dirt off of a surface. Calcium
Carbonate doesnt have any health hazards and can
be used as a supplement to prevent osteoporosis.
(http://wtt-pro.nist.gov/wtt-pro/index.html?cmp=calcium_carbonate,
http://www.munciesanitary.org/department-pages/recycling/househ
old-cleaning-products/)

Sodium Benzenesulfonate: C H NaO S

6

This compound can be used to bleach or remove

stains. It can also be used to make clothing or
fabric less staticy. Sodium Benzenesulfonate is
recognized as a safe chemical.
(https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium_benzenes
ulfonate#section=Top,
http://www.irochemical.com/product/Surfactants/LAS.htm)

Sodium Hypochlorite: NaClO

Sodium Hypochlorite can be used to
disinfect, bleach, and remove stains. It is
often diluted in water and used for cleaning in
health facilities. It is very corrosive and will
burn skin or eyes if a high concentration
comes into contact with them.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite,http://sc
ience.jrank.org/pages/6243/Sodium-Hypochlorite.html)

Symclosene: C Cl N O
3

Symclosene is also known as Trichloroisocyanuric

acid. It is used in cleaners to disinfect, and also as
an algicide. When eyes, skin, or lungs are exposed
they will likely become very irritated and/or red. It is
also and explosion hazard.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroisocyanuric_acid,By Capaccio
- Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26388620,
http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1892.pdf)