Chemistry For Your Life

Question and Response 72

Melissa and Jam tackle a variety of listener questions about chemistry-related topics. They discuss the differences between conductors, semiconductors, and superconductors, and delve into why minty things feel cold and spicy things feel hot. The duo also addresses the safety of silica gel packets, the potency of skunk spray, and the phenomenon of microplastics. They answer questions from their Patreon community and Instagram followers, touching on the unique properties of Helium-3 and providing tips on polishing silver jewelry. The episode features a blend of informative discussions and humorous anecdotes, making chemistry accessible and entertaining for everyone.

00:00 Introduction and Questions Overview

01:54 Diving into Semiconductors and Superconductors

04:46 Silica Gel and Safety Concerns

09:54 The Science Behind Minty Cool and Spicy Hot

13:40 Addressing Unfinished Business

13:55 Instagram Questions: Skunks and Their Potent Smell

15:47 Instagram Questions: Microplastics and Forensics

17:39 Instagram Questions: Helium-3 and Its Uses

19:55 Instagram Questions: Polishing Silver Jewelry

21:28 Email Question: Sourdough Bread Making Tips

25:32 Wrapping Up and Community Shoutouts

Support this podcast on Patreon

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References from the Episode:

1. 
   
   
   
   1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11856799/#B9-jcm-14-01345
   
   
   2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/hydrocolloid
   
   
   3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5788207/
   
   
   
   

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Amanda Raymond


• Emily Morrison


• Kyle McCray


• Justine


• Emily Hardy


• Ash


• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather Ragusa


• Autoclave


• Chelsea Morelos


• Dorien VD


• Scott Beyer


• Jessie Reder


• J0HNTR0Y


• Jeannette Napoleon


• Cullyn R


• Erica Bee


• Elizabeth P


• Rachel Reina


• Letila


• Katrina Barnum-Huckins


• Suzanne Phillips


• Venus Rebholz


• Jacob Taber


• Brian Kimball


• Kristina Gotfredsen


• Timothy Parker


• Steven Boyles


• Chris Skupien


• Chelsea B


• Avishai Barnoy


• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

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Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind popular hydrocolloid bandages and pimple patches. They discuss the composition and functionality of these bandages, exploring how polymers and polar groups work to keep wounds moist and free from external contaminants. The episode also highlights the trend of using pimple patches, especially among teens, and addresses the additional features some patches include, such as microneedles with active ingredients. Melissa shares personal anecdotes about dealing with skin issues and Jam reflects on his own experiences with sickness. The episode concludes with a shout-out to their community members and the importance of public support in keeping the show running.

00:00 The Painful Reality of Pimples

00:59 Pimple Patches: The New Trend

04:00 Shingles: A Personal Experience

07:52 The Science Behind Hydrocolloid Bandages

22:33 Analogies and Polymers

24:32 Hydrocolloid Bandages and Wound Care

26:43 Pimple Patches and Active Ingredients

30:01 Personal Stories and Sickness

35:55 Birthdays and Personal Preferences

40:44 Community and Support

Support this podcast on Patreon

Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

References from the Episode:

1. 
   
   
   
   1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11856799/#B9-jcm-14-01345
   
   
   2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/hydrocolloid
   
   
   3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5788207/
   
   
   
   

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Amanda Raymond


• Emily Morrison


• Kyle McCray


• Justine


• Emily Hardy


• Ash


• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather Ragusa


• Autoclave


• Chelsea Morelos


• Dorien VD


• Scott Beyer


• Jessie Reder


• J0HNTR0Y


• Jeannette Napoleon


• Cullyn R


• Erica Bee


• Elizabeth P


• Rachel Reina


• Letila


• Katrina Barnum-Huckins


• Suzanne Phillips


• Venus Rebholz


• Jacob Taber


• Brian Kimball


• Kristina Gotfredsen


• Timothy Parker


• Steven Boyles


• Chris Skupien


• Chelsea B


• Avishai Barnoy


• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#127 Rebroadcast

If you've ever had acne, you've probably tried some creams or washes with "benzoyl peroxide" somewhere on the label. How is it that this specific ingredient is helpful for fighting acne? What is happening at the molecular level when we apply some benzoyl peroxide to our acne? Let's find out!

References from this episode

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791156/


2. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(81)70004-5/pdf


3. https://youtu.be/_Mlv2Q_HiM0


4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537220/


5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21076800/


6. https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/topics/neuroscience/benzoyl-peroxide


7. https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/issues/2016-2017/December%202016/chemmatters-dec2016-acne.pdf


8. https://youtu.be/KrMbwDil1hc


9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC171487/pdf/aac00071-0086.pdf


10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697687/#jde13996-bib-0006


11. https://youtu.be/IyxTc0iZ6V8?t=1066s


12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697687/#jde13996-bib-0006
    
    

Support this podcast on Patreon

Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Emily Morrison


• Kyle McCray


• Emily Hardy


• Ash


• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather Ragusa


• Autoclave


• Chelsea Morelos


• Dorien VD


• Scott Beyer


• Jessie Reder


• Ciara Linville


• J0HNTR0Y


• Jeannette Napoleon


• Cullyn R


• Erica Bee


• Elizabeth P


• Rachel Reina


• Letila


• Katrina Barnum-Huckins


• Suzanne Phillips


• Venus Rebholz


• Lyn Stubblefield


• Jacob Taber


• Brian Kimball


• Kristina Gotfredsen


• Timothy Parker


• Steven Boyles


• Chris Skupien


• Chelsea B


• Avishai Barnoy


• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Melissa and Jam delve into the intricate phenomenon of static electricity. They discuss their own experiences with static shocks and static cling, particularly in the winter months. They explain the concept of contact electrification and the tribal electric effect, providing basic explanations along with why these do not fully account for everything we observe. They highlight recent scientific research, revealing that much about static electricity remains a mystery, including why it occurs more in some materials than others and how friction affects it. The podcast also explores practical examples and ways static electricity impacts everyday life, such as in winter clothing, camp blankets, coffee grinding, and even industrial settings.

00:00 Introduction and Winter Talk

00:24 Static Shock Experiences

01:39 Welcome to Chemistry for Your Life

03:49 Understanding Static Electricity

06:06 Static Electricity in Everyday Life

12:14 Recent Research on Static Electricity

18:44 Understanding Static Electricity

19:26 Challenges in Studying Static

20:19 Experiments and Observations

22:58 Static in Everyday Life

24:28 Water and Static Electricity

25:58 Personal Experiences with Static

28:52 Conclusion and Community Engagement

Support this podcast on Patreon

Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

References from the Episode:

1. 
   
   
   
   1. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/09/solving-the-longstanding-mystery-of-how-friction-leads-to-static-electricity 
   
   
   2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00298-7 
   
   
   3. https://www.sciencealert.com/we-finally-know-what-creates-static-electricity-after-thousands-of-years 
   
   
   4. https://link.aps.org/accepted/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.116103 
   
   
   5. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/environment-general-science/how-can-i-stop-getting-static-shocks 
   
   
   6. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/january/research-update-generating-electricity-from-tacky-tape.html 
   
   
   7. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.2c05629 
   
   
   8. https://case.edu/news/why-does-rubbing-balloon-your-hair-make-it-stick 
   
   
   9. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08530-6 
   
   
   10. https://youtu.be/-Buz6Sp2YTg 
   
   
   11. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/only_you_can_prevent_combine_fires
   
   
   12. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03656
   
   
   
   

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Emily Morrison


• Kyle McCray


• Emily Hardy


• Ash


• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather Ragusa


• Autoclave


• Chelsea Morelos


• Dorien VD


• Scott Beyer


• Jessie Reder


• Ciara Linville


• J0HNTR0Y


• Jeannette Napoleon


• Cullyn R


• Erica Bee


• Elizabeth P


• Rachel Reina


• Letila


• Katrina Barnum-Huckins


• Suzanne Phillips


• Venus Rebholz


• Lyn Stubblefield


• Jacob Taber


• Brian Kimball


• Kristina Gotfredsen


• Timothy Parker


• Steven Boyles


• Chris Skupien


• Chelsea B


• Avishai Barnoy


• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

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Melissa and Jam discuss the top three kitchen products and habits Melissa avoids and loves based on her expertise in chemistry. She advises against using Teflon or non-stick cookware, vintage plastics, and recycling dirty materials. Instead, she encourages using cast iron pans, glass storage containers, and proper recycling practices. Melissa also shares her fondness for composting and its benefits. The episode wraps up with a hint at future editions focused on other household products and cosmetics.

00:00 Introduction and Initial Concerns

01:06 Chemist's Top Three Avoidances

02:49 Avoiding Teflon and Non-Stick

03:34 Avoiding Vintage Plastic

05:14 Avoiding Dirty Recycling

07:33 Chemist's Top Three Favorites

08:31 Bonus: The Joy of Composting

13:11 Wrapping Up and Listener Engagement

Support this podcast on Patreon

Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Emily Morrison


• Kyle McCray


• Emily Hardy


• Ash


• Vince W


• Julie S.


• Heather Ragusa


• Autoclave


• Chelsea Morelos


• Dorien VD


• Scott Beyer


• Jessie Reder


• Ciara Linville


• J0HNTR0Y


• Jeannette Napoleon


• Cullyn R


• Erica Bee


• Elizabeth P


• Rachel Reina


• Letila


• Katrina Barnum-Huckins


• Suzanne Phillips


• Venus Rebholz


• Lyn Stubblefield


• Jacob Taber


• Brian Kimball


• Kristina Gotfredsen


• Timothy Parker


• Steven Boyles


• Chris Skupien


• Chelsea B


• Avishai Barnoy


• Hunter Reardon

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.