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The Core of Cohesion

Beyond Science

Chemistry suffers from an image problem – even though it forms the very basis of our existence. Let’s take a closer look at its significance.

Biology resonates with life; physics equals complicated formulas. But what about chemistry? Somehow it brings to mind polluted rivers and pesticides on your apples. This is unfair, as first and foremost, chemistry is the science that attempts to explain a part of our reality. It finds itself between its two neighboring disciplines which look at organisms, or basic phenomena like energy, matter, space and time, respectively. Chemistry, on the other hand, is interested in the building blocks that make up our world: atoms and molecules, chemical elements and the bonds which they form. While this may sound abstract, chemistry touches every aspect of our daily lives, as the following examples will show.

1)
Pronyl-lysine – a good roast
What do freshly brewed coffee, the bread that just came out of the oven, and seared (cauliflower) steak have in common? Exactly: C15H24N2O6. This is the molecular formula of pronyl-lysine. This compound belongs to the low-molecular melanoidins, a group of organic compounds that form during the browning process; for example, during the roasting of coffee beans or when bread dough forms its outer crust. It is these aromas generated during roasting that make many foods particularly appealing to us. Melanoidins also enhance the shelf-life of foods due to their anti-oxidative effect. Raw steak reacts with oxygen – unlike its dark brown crust.

2) Cementite – a strong building block

No steel, no modern buildings. And: no cementite, no steel. But first things first: pure iron is too soft to be used as a raw material. This is why we use different types of steel – alloys comprising iron, carbon and additional elements as needed, whereby the carbon content must not exceed two percent. The carbon atoms in steel are present in the form of cementite (Fe₃C), which is responsible for the fact that steel is harder than pure iron. This made buildings like the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building possible – as well as countless other items that we take for granted in our daily lives, such as cars and trains, oil and gas pipelines, frying pans and cutlery.

3) Di-HEMA trimethylhexyl dicarbamate – not your average nail polish

Its name provides the clue: we are not looking at a simple chemical element, but rather a macromolecule. More specifically, a synthetically generated polymer. Di-HEMA trimethylhexyl dicarbamate is the main component of nail gel out of which artificial nails of all colors and shapes can be created. The gel can be easily applied, and it cures under UV light. We will spare you the chemical formula for the substance with the complicated name – those interested will find it online.

4) Lutein – for a golden October

Those who do not immediately think of C40H56O2 when gazing at gorgeous crowns of trees will be forgiven. Behind this formula is one of the chemical compounds responsible for the impressive color palettes of fall. Lutein is one of the most important xanthophylls. These are carotenoids present in photosynthesizing plants. When temperatures fall, plants will degrade the chlorophyll which is responsible for the green color of the leaves. Now, the time of the xanthophylls has come; xanthophylls, consisting of long carbon molecules, reflect yellow to red light. They make October look golden, but they also lend tomatoes, carrots and egg yolk their characteristic color.

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5) Citric acid – pipe cleaner
Not a complete surprise: lemons contain citric acid (C6H8O7). Citric acid is an organic compound with a pH of below seven. Perhaps surprising is the fact that citric acid is odorless and tasteless; after all, we know it as the fragrant, lemon-scented cleaning agent. The fragrance, however, stems from essential citrus oils. In any case: citric acid is effective against lime scale as it dissolves calcium carbonate to form water-soluble calcium citrate. In this way, it clears out pipes and allows faucets to shine like new. The compound is abundant in the plant kingdom, and it is also present as a metabolic product in all organisms, including the human body.

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