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Cholesterol's Hydroxyl Group

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 08
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Physics
  1. The hydroxyl group in cholesterol is important because it is polar, having positive and negative poles, and is water-soluble.
  2. Water is a polar molecule due to its hydroxyl groups, demonstrating how opposite charges attract each other.
  3. Cholesterol is an example of an amphipathic molecule, with a water-soluble polar region and a water-insoluble non-polar region.

Cholesterol's Molecular Formula

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 08
🔬 Science Chemistry
  1. A molecular formula shows which atoms and how many of them are in a molecule, with letters representing elements and numbers indicating quantities.
  2. Atomic symbols are abbreviations for specific types of atoms, like C for carbon and H for hydrogen.
  3. Molecular formulas can provide additional information, like functional groups, to give insights into a molecule's structure and properties.

Atoms and Molecules

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 08
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Physics
  1. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter, made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. They form by balancing positive and negative charges.
  2. Covalent bonds are formed when atoms share electrons to fulfill a full outer shell, creating molecules like water.
  3. Ionic bonding occurs when atoms transfer electrons, resulting in charged ions that stick together oppositely to form compounds like table salt.

Cholesterol Chemistry 101

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 08
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Nutrients
  1. Cholesterol is composed of a hydrocarbon tail, a ring structure with 4 hydrocarbon rings, and a hydroxyl group. The combination of these regions classifies cholesterol as a sterol, the animal sterol.
  2. Cholesterol is amphipathic because it contains both water-soluble and fat-soluble regions. It travels in the blood via lipoproteins like LDL and HDL.
  3. Cholesterol, although containing a water-soluble region, is not water-soluble enough to dissolve in the blood directly. Instead, it travels in the blood with fats and fat-soluble nutrients.

Chemical warfare against the common cold

The Quack Doctor • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jun 24
🔬 Science Chemistry Medicine History Therapy Research
  1. US Chemical Warfare Service experimented with chlorine for treating respiratory infections, like colds, and saw promising results in the 1920s
  2. Chlorine treatment gained initial popularity post-World War I but faced criticism for lack of control groups and evidence of effectiveness
  3. Commercial products like the 'Kilacold Chlorine Bomb' were promoted for treating various illnesses but eventually dwindled in use due to shifting priorities and lack of scientific support
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The NextSeq 550 LEDs And More Dye Experiments

ASeq Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biology Technology Engineering Research Chemistry
  1. The NextSeq 550 uses affordable components like $30 LEDs and image sensors, making it impressive for its cost-effective design.
  2. Experimenting with the LED pinout and driving them at certain voltage and current allowed for practical testing with a spectrometer.
  3. The author shares measurements taken through the NextSeq 550 optical system, indicating a hands-on approach to understanding its functionality.