Tag: Chemistry

Over 45 million children suffer from wasting, a severe form of malnutrition, with Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) being a key indicator used to assess the scale of such crises. When seen in a health context, these acronyms have very different meanings than their original scientific definitions.

While coffee beans contain proteins and amino acids, the beverage in your cup is fundamentally different. Contrary to popular misconception, a cup of coffee is not an amino acid, but a complex mix of compounds that gives it unique flavor, aroma, and stimulating effects.

According to the National Institutes of Health, phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the human body, with 85% found in bones and teeth. So, does phosphorus have electrolytes? In its elemental form, no, but once absorbed and combined with oxygen in the body, it transforms into the electrolyte phosphate.

Despite being a key component of urine, a solution that contains many electrolytes, urea itself does not conduct electricity when dissolved in water. This surprising fact clarifies that urea is, in fact, a non-electrolyte under standard conditions.

While it is a common simplification, the empirical formula CH2O does not mean that every compound with this ratio is a carbohydrate. This basic formula represents the 1:2:1 ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms found in the simplest sugars, but the specific molecular arrangement is what truly defines a carbohydrate.

According to the World Health Organization, reducing free sugar intake to less than 10% of total energy intake is recommended. Understanding what category sugar belongs to is the first step toward informed dietary choices. Sugar is not a standalone category but a fundamental part of the broader carbohydrate family, which also includes starches and fiber.

The average American drinks about 40 gallons of soda and other soft drinks each year, all containing the same fizzy effect. This familiar sensation is scientifically known by another name: effervescence. While "carbonation" is widely understood, the term "effervescence" is its more formal and encompassing counterpart, describing the bubbling escape of gas from a liquid.

The human body consists of thousands of different proteins that are vital for virtually every bodily function, yet the fundamental units comprising these complex structures are surprisingly common chemical elements. Understanding which elements make up protein is key to unlocking the mysteries of this essential nutrient.

First synthesized in 1996, the chemical compound Lugduname is a guanidine derivative estimated to be over 200,000 times sweeter than regular table sugar (sucrose). The search for the ultimate sweet taste has led scientists to create and discover a range of substances far more intense than any natural sugar, begging the question: what is the sweetest substance known to man?

In 1770, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier made a pivotal discovery, linking food metabolism to respiration, a foundational concept that led to him being hailed as the father of nutrition. However, the title's ownership is not as simple as it seems, as several other pioneers made indispensable contributions to the field's development.