Fluoride is a group of compounds consisting of naturally occurring elements of fluorine plus one or more elements. These compounds are naturally found in water and soil. However, waters are still fluoridated through the process of fluoridation. Water fluoridation is a process that involves addition of fluoride into the amount of water in order to have about one particle of fluoride in every one million particles of water (ppm) or one milligram of fluoride in every one liter of water (mgL). This...

Chemistry in My Major

Many of us might think that chemistry is just another science. For me, once I hear the word, a picture of a scientist mixing different chemicals in the laboratory immediately comes to mind. At least this was what I initially thought before taking this chemistry class. What now retains in my head is the fact that chemistry works in ways people might not have realized  from the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we ride, the processes inside our bodies, the products we consume, the air...

Silent Spring

Urbanization and modernization have brought with them financial prosperity, economic betterment and a higher standard of comfort and living. However, man has sacrificed all the elements, with absolutely no consideration, only to achieve and accomplish prosperity at the cost of natures biodiversity and ecological balance. The world today faces the threat of extinction of innumerable species of plants and animals that have a right to stay on planet Earth more than us as they were its first occupants....

Artificial photosynthesis for energy production

One big fear that the world is always faced with is what it would be if all the fossil fuel the it has been relying on are depleted. There is a continuously growing consumption of energy in all aspects of human life. The production processes all require enormous amounts of energy and they keep on growing each and very day. The consequences of these have been overexploitation of fossil fuel and which lead to great pollution of the environment.  The  from the statistics California institute...

the development and use of explosive over the past century

This paper researches on the history of explosives over the past century, its types and usage. A brief introduction of the explosives has been given. The research question or problem is that the explosives accessibility should be limited and restricted for public use because of its negative effects. The method used has been secondary research. The explosives have been classified as high, low, primary and blasting agents. Disadvantages of the explosives are concerned with safety and health issues,...

The Chemistry of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls also known as PCBs belong to a group of 209 synthetic organic chemicals composed of between 1 and 10 atoms of chlorine attached to biphenyl rings (1). These individual chlorinated biphenyl rings, congeners, were mainly manufactured as mixtures comprising of 60-90 congeners. The PCBs have a general formula of C12H10-xClx (1). PCBs are sparingly soluble in water but highly soluble in oils, fats and organic solvents. They are stable compounds and not easily degradable although...

Effect of Pesticides, Chemical Contaminants, and Natural Toxins on Humans and Measures used for their Prevention and Control

A majority of substances used by humans in daily life such as air, water and food contain thousands of unknown substances. Other organisms also present in the environment such as insects, animals and microorganisms may be harmful to humans and can result in serious health effects on human beings. The following paper will examine health risks in relation to pesticides, chemical contaminants and natural toxins. Their history, mode of manufacture, safety and toxicity, relevance and importance based...