Chem Memo #3

Salt Usage

Salt, also known as the bane of our shoes in Canadian winters. Did you know that the salt used on our roads and sidewalks is actually carefully measured and mixed by professionals in order to be beneficial for us? It is explained how and why it is so important for it to be carefully measure in the article released by The Record News called, "The perfect mixture: the science of salting, sanding roads.”

Quantity of certain chemicals can have a huge effect on a reaction or physical change. One limiting reagent is always present, a chemical or substance that is used up, thereby stopping the reaction. It’s important to carefully measure these quantities in order to prevent the reaction to lose control. Balancing chemical equations can also help determine how much salt is actually needed when de-icing roads.

In this case, a chemical reaction is not exactly taking place, however, the melted ice is dissolving the sodium chloride.

To sum up the article, it explains how different cities and towns use different ratios of sand to salt in their mixes. For example, cities with colder temperatures like Ottawa, require more salt, as preventing refreezing is key. But, in cities where the temperature is too low for salt to be of any use, more sand is applied to provide more traction. Although salt is very beneficial for our traction cities often fail to consider the environmental impact of how much they are using. A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says that when salt is applied on roads, it "impacts water quality.” She goes on to say that, especially in areas around road salt storage piles, waterways are impacted by salt runoff. As snow and ice melt, they are carried into storm drains and sent untreated to our waterways. The sodium in road salt can destroy soil stability, decreasing the ability of the soil to filter water, and increasing soil erosion.

The safety of cars on roads is extremely important, but so is the local environment. Of course, humans are always going to choose the quick fix (salt) over a long-term change (fewer cars?). Salt is crucial in Canada’s harsh climate, but I believe we could definitely improve or at least investigate the impact we are having on our environment when we use it.

So, my question is this: Is salt harmless enough to continue to use, or should we investigate alternatives? Are the benefits worth the risks we are taking?

Chem Memo #2 - Paper Making

Chemical Reactions: Paper Making

Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibres derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets. When manufacturing paper, the chemicals used are chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, oxygen peroxide, and ozone.

Now onto the actual process. The kraft pulping process is a process for conversion of wood into wood pulp, which consists of almost pure cellulose fibers, the main component of paper.

Kraft pulping process:

1. Lignin reacts with with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and forms sodium lignate.
2. The sodium lignate dissolves in water which causes the fibres to seperate
3. Na-lignate is burned with sodium sulphate in a furnace.
1. Carbon portion of Na-lignate burns and provides heat energy.
2. Na-ion oxidizes the sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
3. Sodium sulphate is also reduced to sodium sulphide (Na2S).
4. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is made to react with lime or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
1. Reaction produces NaOH and CaCO3 (limestone).
2. Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 and CO2) is given back since calcium carbonate is burned (CaCO3)
5. When bleaching, residual lignin reacts with a bleaching chemical. This provides either a water soluble compound or a colourless modified lignin.
1. If chlorine based bleaching agents are used, lignin-cl is formed
2. If oxygen based bleaching agents is used, the lignin is modified and does not dissolve in water and stay with the pulp.
6. In acidic sizing, which is the process of making paper liquid resistant, Rosin (C19H29COOH), a natural resin from pine trees reacts with alum (aluminum sulfate {A12(SO4)3}) to create aluminum rosinate, which is a liquid resistant layer around fibre.

Reactants or products of the pulp and paper production process may affect the health of people living near the plant. To bleach the pulp, chlorine compounds are used in some paper mills in preparation for papermaking. As important as this step may be, chlorine compounds are known to be the most hazardous industrial chemicals in large quantities. Some chlorine compounds produce harmful byproducts called organochlorines. Organochlorines include dioxins and other similar compounds that are known to cause cancer, as well as causing developmental, reproductive, and immune system damage. Close neighbors to the mill may experience eye and breathing irritation or nausea and headaches. People with asthma should not neighbour mills and are at a major risk of having a heart attack.

To conclude, this process is clearly unsafe for humans and their health.

Leaching of chemicals from tailing ponds affect the water quality in a local community since chemicals such as cyanide, leach into groundwater. This is very dangerous because if you were to drink cyanide, your cells would be prevented from using oxygen; without oxygen, cells die.

This is most harmful to the heart and brain.

Symptoms from drinking cyanide include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness
• Rapid heart rate and/or breathing

Large amounts can cause:

• Loss of consciousness
• Lung injury
• Permanent brain, nerve, heart damage
• Death

If this were to happen, this would result in closed water supply. When water supplies close, more water bottles will be consumed, resulting in additional wastes and water pollution. Plants that come in contact with water would die. Also, contaminated water is toxic to fish and waterfowl.

To sum it up, if leaching of chemicals from tailing ponds affect the water quality in a local community, a ripple effect of errors will occur.

There are 3 major effects to show how toxic chemical fires affect local communities.

• Health of the community
• Cancer and respiratory problem

• Health of the environment
• Soil water and air

• Economy  
• Damaged facilities/property, people without jobs, insurance

Chemicals produced by the fire also contribute towards health effects.

• Lead: neurological damage
• Arsenic: cardiovascular problems
• Cadmium: kidney problems
• Mercury: nervous systems damage

Overall, it is safe to say that paper mills can have a negative impact on the health and safety of local populations.

“Chemical Reactions: Paper Making.” Chemistry, 21 Jan. 2018, 1keetingemichemistry.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/chemical-reactions-paper-making/.

Chem Memo #1: Artificial Sweeteners

Sweeteners a better option?

Sweeteners are found in our everyday life, since they are the substitute that we use instead of regular table sugar (sucrose). We may find them in our soft drinks, baked goods, candy, canned foods, and dairy products.

Manufacturers of sweeteners may call their product all natural even though they have been sent for processing/refined. It is said that artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than average table sugar; this is how they received names like “intense sweeteners.” What makes people attracted to this alternative substance is that you need way less of the artificial sweetener compared with the amount of sugar you would normally use for sweetness.

There are benefits to sweeteners and that is why we see them at our local grocery stores. “Artificial sweeteners have virtually no calories. In contrast, a teaspoon of sugar has about 16 calories — so a can of sweetened cola with 10 teaspoons of added sugar has about 160 calories.” This means that if you are looking for ways to lose weight or prevent weight gain, these sweeteners are surely an attractive option.

Along with the benefits of weight control, artificial sweeteners also help with diabetes. Unlike table sugar, artificial sweeteners aren't carbohydrates. Because of this, artificial sweeteners will not raise blood sugar levels.

Although there are benefits with artificial sweeteners, there are definitely some health concerns. Studies say that artificial sweeteners have caused a variety of health problems, including cancer. This study is mainly linked to 1970, when they detected bladder cancer in laboratory rats that consumed an ingredient in  artificial sweetener called saccharin. Also, people who eat artificial sweeteners as apart of their daily routine may damage their taste to healthier options. You begin to find less sweetening foods, such as fruit, less appealing.

I personally believe that table sugar may be the better option. Although too much sugar is arguably bad for us. Substitutes like artificial sweeteners have more health concerns that overtop the certain benefits. If you are trying to lose weight, cutting junk sugar (candy) is completely a better option than using sweeteners.

This question still remains. Are artificial sweeteners a better option?


“Pros and Cons of Artificial Sweeteners.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 Sept. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art-20046936.