Salicylic Acid: Properties, Uses and History

Salicylic Acid: Properties, Uses and History Salicylic acid is found naturally in the bark of the willow tree. It has been used for centuries to relieve a variety of ailments. It has also been developed in a variety of products in the areas of skin care, cosmetics and stomach relief. Salicylic acid is a wonder drug. But what are its physical and chemical properties? What chemical reactions are used in manufacturing and using salicylic acid? Does it represent any safety risks to society and the environment? Salicylic acid was discovered by the Greek physician Hippocrates in the 5th century BC.  [1]  He found that the bitter powder extracted from willow bark could relieve aches and pains and reduce fevers.  [2]  The remedy is also mentioned in writings from ancient Sumer, Lebanon, and Assyria. Cherokee and other Native Americans used the bark for fever and other medicinal purposes for centuries. The medicinal part of the plant is the inner bark. It is used as a pain reliever for a variety of ailments. The reverend Edward Stone from Oxfordshire, England found in 1763 that willow bark was useful in reducing fever. The active extract of the bark is called Salicin, after the Latin name of the white willow (salix alba).  [3]  The extract was isolated and named by Johann Buchner in Germany in 1826. A larger amount of the substance was isolated in 1828 by the French pharmacists, Hanri Laroux.  [4]  The Italian chemist, Raffaele Piria was able to convert the extract into a chemical which become salicylic acid when it oxidises.  [5]   In 1839, Salicylic acid was also extracted by German researchers from the herb meadowsweet (Filpendula ulmaria). This extract was effective but it caused digestive problems such as gastric irritation, bleeding, diarrhoea and death if consumed in high doses.  [6]   Uses Salicylic Acid is still used today to ease aches and pains and to reduce fevers. It was used as an anti-inflammatory drug even in ancient times. Salicylic is a main ingredient in many skin care products treating acne, psoriasis, calluses, corns, keratosis pilaris and warts. Salicylic acid works as a keratolytic and comedolytic agent. It causes the cells of the epidermis to shed more easily, opening clogged pores and neutralizing bacteria within. It can also prevent pores from clogging up again by constricting pore diameter, and allowing for new cell growth. Due to its effect on skin cells, salicylic acid is used in some shampoos to treat dandruff. Properties Salicylic Acid has the appearance of a colourless crystalline powder. It is odourless or may have a slight phenolic odour.  [7]  It has a sweetish taste.  [8]  It has a melting point of 159 °C and a sublimation point of 76 °C. Its relative density is 1.4 compared to water which has a relative density of 1. Its solubility in water is 0.2 g/100 ml at 20 °C.  [9]  It is soluble in alcohol, ether, boiling water.  [10]  It has a pH of 2.4. It is a polar molecule which explains its low solubility in water. It was a molar mass of 138.1 g/mol. Its chemical formula is C6H4(OH)COOH and an empirical formula of C7H6O3. It will auto-ignite at as low as 540 °C. It is a relatively stable compound but oxidizing agents, strong bases, iodine, and fluorine may cause strong reactions.  [11]  It is also sensitive to light. It can be harmful if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin. It is an irritant. Manufacturing Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid forms in nature in Salix, the bark of the willow tree. While the powder extracted from the bark could be sold today, it rarely is because it purity is not constant. To make salicylic acid in a lab, chemists can put sodium phenoxide and carbon dioxide under high pressurization.  [12]  Once this mixture is acidified using sulphuric acid, salicylic acid will result. This process is called a Kolbe-Schmitt reaction. This method results in much purer and more consistent product that can be used of pharmaceutical or commercial preparations. Using Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid works on skin by softening keratin, one of the proteins in the skin structure. With the keratin softened, the skin sheds easier. When being used for warts the skin is softened and the wart can fall off. When being used for acne, the increased shedding prevents clogging in the pore. Medications like salicylic acid are called keratolytics because they can soften and facilitate the exfoliation of epidermal cells. Salicylic acid is also a comedolytic medication because it can break up comedones and open clogged pores. Salicylic Acid, when taken orally, is also an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory. It can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Salicylic acid blocks the production of certain hormones called prostaglandins that are released from damaged cells. Prostaglandins, if not blocked, trigger the release of other hormones that cause the nerves to be sensitive to pain. By blocking prostaglandins, the pain and inflammation are significantly reduced. Economic Benefits There are many economic benefits to manufacturing salicylic acid. Since it relives aches, reduces fevers and is anti-inflammatory, it can help reduce the time people miss at school and at work. For employers, students and the entire economy this is a benefit. With people being in less pain and not suffering from fevers and swelling, visits to the hospital and doctors office will be reduced. This will ease the load on the medical system. One can imagine how high the sales of aspirin are and this would not be possible without salicylic acid. There is obviously also a tremendous economic benefit to the manufacture of many skin care products that use salicylic acid. Acne, wart, psoriasis, calluses, corns and keratosis are very common ailments therefore sales of the skin care products would be very high. There is money to be made in the area of cosmetics with products to exfoliate epidermal cells and open clogged pores. In addition to this, sales of dandruff shampoo and stomach aids (both of which contain salicylic acid or its derivatives), must be very high. The history of salicylic acid represents continual technological development. What started as a simple extract from the willow tree became many useful products over the centuries. Throughout history chemists have worked hard to develop additional uses for salicylic acid. Chemists discovered its anti-inflammatory properties. These properties have been researched and have helped the development of modern anti-inflammatory medications. Safety Salicylic acid can be harmful if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through skin. If inhaled, it can cause effects such as coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. If ingested in a large amount salicylism may result which is characterised by abdominal pain, vomiting, mental disturbances and increased respiration.  [13]  It is a mild irritant and may cause a skin rash in individuals that are sensitive to it. Salicylic acid is an extreme eye irritant which was shown in animal testing.  [14]  Chronic exposure to salicylic acid can cause central nervous disturbances as serious as convulsions. It may cause harm to an unborn child although the effects of salicylic acid during pregnancy have not been fully investigated. The salicylic acid used topically is usually very diluted at only 2% or used in a very small amount. Plus the amount absorbed through the skin is very low. Therefore the risk to an individual applying it topically is minimal. Salicylic acid should be stored in a tightly closed container that is stored in a cool, dry and ventilated place. It should be protected from physical damage and kept away from any source of heat, ignition or oxidizing materials. Care should be takes to avoid dust formation as it can ignite. Empting the contents of a salicylic acid container should be done with care as empting it into an atmosphere where flammable vapours are present can cause a flash fire. Salicylic acid should always be stored in the dark. When salicylic acid is released into soil it will quickly biodegrade. The same will occur when it is released into water. Because it quickly biodegrade, there is not a major environmental effect of salicylic acid. However, it should be still disposed of properly. The low concentrations that are found in many skin care products can be disposed of in the garbage. With Large concentrations or large amounts of salicylic acid, they should be disposed of carefully. They should be brought to a licenced waste disposal contractor that observes all local and national regulations.  [15]   Other Interesting Facts about Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid has been used as a food preservative. It works as one because of its antiseptic properties. It has to be used in very small doses because of its toxicity at high doses. It is no longer used as a food preservative anymore because of concerns with using any antiseptics in human food.  [16]  Salicylic acid can cause ear damage when taken orally because it inhibits prestin. This only happens in people with a zinc deficiency. However if zinc is injected, the hearing loss can be reversed.  [17]  Salicylic acid, was once the worlds bestselling drug in 1898.  [18]  Salicylic acid is also a plant hormone that causes an increase in growth, flowering and heat production.  [19]   It is clear that salicylic acid is a very valuable substance. It has many uses and applications in medicine and cosmetics. It was been available to us for centuries. Salicylic acid is an odourless, colourless crystalline powder. It can react with certain chemicals. It is manufactured in a Kolbe-Schmitt reaction and it is used to soften the skin making it good for treating many ailments. Salicylic acid must be stored safely and disposed of properly.

History of Marijuana :: American History Weed Medicine Essays

History of Marijuana Marijuana has been used both recreationally and medicinally for centuries. There are numerous accounts of its medicinal qualities in multiple historical artifacts. Its use dates back to 2737 B.C. when the Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, used it for medicinal purposes including malaria, gout, poor memory, rheumatism, and analgesia (Carter et. al., 2003). Eastern Indian documents, in the Atharvaveda, dating back to 2000 B.C. also refer to its medicinal use. The Jamestown settlers cultivated hemp produced by the marijuana plant. They used these fibers to make clothing, rope, and canvas because of its quality and durability. Physicians in the 19th century were prescribing cannabis as a pain reliever, an anticonvulsant, and for migraine headaches (Doweiko, 2002). Following his work in India in the 1840's William O'Shaughnessy introduced medicinal marijuana to the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria used marijuana for dysmenorrhoea during the same time period (Carter et. al., 2003). Smoking marijuana recreationally began to spread in the United States in the 1920's. It began to spread from Mexico and New Orleans up the Mississippi river. Jazz musicians, labor workers, and river boatmen were quickly taking to its euphoric effects (Gettman, 1995). Smoking marijuana also became more popular during Prohibition when more people began cultivation of the plant and importing it into the U.S. to replace alcohol (Doweiko, 2002). In 1942, marijuana was removed from the United States Pharacopoeia and the Federal Government began to criminalize non-medicinal marijuana possession and use (Carter et al., 2003). Marijuana became extremely popular in the 1960's and, today, is considered the most widely used illicit drug in the world, Canada, and the United States (Gettman, 1995). Pharmacology and Chemistry of Marijuana Cannabis is known to contain over 400 chemicals in which about 70 are classified as plant cannabinoids. The human body produces naturally occurring cannabinoids. The cannabinoids are lipophilic. Delta-8 and Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been found to produce most of the psychoactive effects of marijuana (Carter et al., 2003). Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol appears to be the most abundant cannabinoid and the main source of cannabis' impact. Cannabidiol is the second most predominantly active ingredient. It becomes Tetrahydrocannabinol as the cannabis plant matures and the T etrahydrocannabinol then breaks down into cannabinol Approximately 40 percent of the plant's resin in some strains of cannabis are cannabidiol. Each cannabis strain differs in

Study Habits

Sometimes a purely quantitative matter, while having the findings of lengthy, comprehensive research published by a recognized journal is also a notable academic achievement (Ansari 1983 ). When students get admission in a university, they have no idea about studies requirement. Most of them have old patterns of seeking knowledge at the beginning, they apply the same old techniques but after some time they realize that old techniques are no more effective. Gradually they started developing mature study style. Some students, when enter the higher education institution, feel free themselves from all the worries of studies which affect their studies negatively. Even they get failed in their tests or exams and there are some other poor study habits which affect the achievement of the students. These are as follow: This is a very common mistake which is made by students, and also most unavoidable from the side of students. When students enter, especially in the universities, they think of themselves free from every duty of studies. When students leave their classes, due to this, their study habits are also affected. They get used to it and lose their positions. If they want to succeed in their life, they should be punctual in their studies, attend all lectures which the teacher delivers in the class. Hostel is a place where usually travelers and students live in a supervised environment. Mostly hostels are used by the students, who come from distant places to earn their degrees. Hostel life has a great impact on the academic achievement of the students. Some students gain knowledge in proper manner but some do not. The reason is that some students do not feel comfortable in hostels and get home sick. On the other side, those students who are day scholars, they also have some problems. Some have home conflicts and other factors which influence their academic achievements. Because of these problems, they can never be able to achieve good results in their academics. Sometimes students those are living in hostels face many difficulties due to economic hardships or home sickness but still work hard and achieve good grade and sometime they deviate due to lack of proper supervision and guidance so in the case of day scholars. Present study is design to explore this mystery that whether day scholar’s students have good study habits and higher academic achievement or hostel living students have more effective study habits and higher academic achievements Statement of the Problem The problem under investigation was to explore the relationship between study habits

IBM Dell Companies Overview

IBM Dell Companies Overview IBM endeavors to prepare a common size financial statement with the common size being on the total of each side of the accounting equation. On the income statement, each item is expressed as a percentage of net sales. This helps evaluate internal make up of financial statements (Forbes, 2011). The purpose of this type of accounting is to evaluate financial statement accounts across companies.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on IBM Dell Companies’ Overview specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Over the years, IBM has witnessed an increase in its major revenue, indicating an increment in comparison to Dell. This could be attributed to the fact that IBM focuses mostly on major companies. Additionally, the company invests in IBM’s five major business services, namely: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology, and Global Financing. Global Technology services are the ma in income generators, most notably in 2010, and attracted a total of 39% of the company’s total revenue (Forbes, 2011). Software on the other hand accounts for the pre-tax income. The most notable IBM’s software products are Tivoli, Lotus and Rational. Its research and development team has continually endeavored to provide the company with the best information as regards the markets of its products (Forbes, 2011). This is arguably true as IBM’s mainframes have over the years been in the market and still present a profitable products line for the business, in addition to other personal computers and servers. In the information technology firms, IBM is still ranked high and is listed in Fortune magazine as among the world’s most admired companies. One of its most identifying characteristic has been the zeal to invest in low-margin business; for instance the personal computer division that was later sold to Lenovo group and later focusing on more high-value products and services. Its most valuable expense in 2010 was the purchase of Netezza at $1.7 billion (Forbes, 2011). Dell has not been doing badly either, although its revenue is far behind IBM’s. Its philosophy of actively managing demand in real time and selling what is has in its stores has ensured that the company soar to greater heights. If it relied on what it wants to sell, the company would have witnessed low profit margins than recorded (Dell, 2011).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Its success is further promoted by the fact that Dell’s customers are mostly the high-end buyers who adopt new technology, often making the market adopt new product life-cycle transitions (Dell, 2011). Its profit margins have risen steadily and more funds have been directed into research and development for the innovation of more features. Additionally, its operat ing expenses have been on the rise perhaps an attribute of the global crisis that initially affected the market of all products. The company’s manufacturing system has concentrated on the building products place orders, working closely with its major suppliers while concentrating more on consumer research to realize a flexible system. Most if its funds have thus been directed into research and development. The earnings from the shares cannot really account for much of the company’s income. Thus it is agreed that the forecast accuracy in Dell could be around 70-75%, attributable to its careful accounts selection (Dell, 2011). The company’s management has over the years focused on the high-end products with a more prolonged shelf-life. This, however, is mostly applied when the consumer market is highly unpredictable. Of the two companies, IBM is more successful and somewhat unpredictable in its development of new technologies. References Dell (2011). Financial rep orts. Retrieved from https://www.dell.com/en-us Forbes (2011). International Business Machines, Income Statement (NYSE:IBM). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/companies/ibm/#25deaead39c4Advertising We will write a custom report sample on IBM Dell Companies’ Overview specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

The American Civil War

The American Civil War Free Online Research Papers The Civil War was bound to happen one way or another. The inevitability of the Civil War can be pin-pointed back to many issues that occurred during colonial times. Political, economic, and social problems helped with the causes of the Civil War. The Civil war occurred during the years 1861 and 1865. This was a fight to preserve the Union which during this time was the United States of America. It included the secession of the South from the Union. The North and South varied on many issues such as: political, social, and economic differences. Politically, the south was much less dependent on the federal government than the north which were highly dependent on, to build everything. The South feared that a strong central government would interfere with slavery.There were reasons other than slavery for the South’s secession. Economically, the South relied heavily on agriculture. The South grew cotton, which was its main cash crop. Many southerners knew that heavy reliance on agriculture would hurt the south, but their warnings were not heeded. The invention of the cotton gin was another key element to the inevitability of the Civil War. The cotton gin enabled the south to have a great interest in their traditional lifestyle in order to feel the need to depend it from the North. The North as stated before relied on its government to do everything. The North depended on factories and businesses to supply everything. The North was established as an industrial society; labor was needed, but from immigrants, not slaves. Immigrants traveled from mostly countries in Europe to the North to find a better life. As the immigrants started working in the factories for minimum wage, the North stated to form again. On a social note, the growth of the abolition movement added to the causes of the Civil War. Each day the northerners became more against slaver. Many people say that slavery was the main cause of the Civil War, because of Abraham Lincoln. Some believe that the main cause was the secession of the southern states. Arguments that slavery was undesirable for the nation had long existed, and the northern states all abolished slavery after 1776. Slavery had been a part of life in America since the early colonial period and became more acceptable in the South than the North. Southern planters relied on slaves to run larger farms or plantations and make them profitable. Many slaves were also used to provide labor for the various household chores that needed to be done. This did not sit well with many northerners who felt that slavery was uncivilized and should be abolished. It can be easily said that the secession of the southern states was the underlying cause. Although, before the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln, seven states had seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Even though things were coming to a head, when Lincoln was elected in 1860, South Carolina issued its â€Å"Declaration of the Causes of Secession.† They believed that Lincoln was anti-slavery and in favor of the North. This seemed unnecessary since the seven states already left the Union. Since colonial times throughout the 1700s, many â€Å"ideas† erupted that could lead up to the Civil War. The American Revolution could easily be cast into the causes of the war. The American Revolution was the biggest war fought on American soil before the Civil War. This war could easily add to the causes because if the United States hadn’t of fought, then there wouldn’t be a need to fight the Civil War. The Civil War was indeed inevitable. No matter how hard any political leader or regular person could’ve tried; there would’ve been no use in it. From said things that had happened in the past, this war was bound to happen in one way or another. Whether it be slavery, political differences, economical or social problems it would have paved a way for the war to happen. The South was more scared that the North was trying to modernize everything that they had worked for, to make it more like the North. This was really not the case. The North wanted to abolish slavery in the South so no more real issues would occur. The South, not so happy about this, they decided to secede from the Union all together. No matter which way the North or South turned, the Civil War was definitely inevitable. Whether slavery or political, economic and social differences, the real underlying cause of the Civil War is still a mystery. Research Papers on The American Civil War19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationQuebec and CanadaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaTwilight of the UAWCapital PunishmentAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2

Government and International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Government and International Relations - Essay Example Economic consequences of these attacks are felt even a decade later. American civilians were now living in great tension as none could predict what catastrophe was going to befall the nation next. The American government had to launch the operation â€Å"global war on terrorism† to curb this vice of merciless terrorism. American government under leadership of President George W. Bush vowed to fight the terrorists irrespective of their geographical location. This war however was supported by other nations such as Britain, France, Australia, and Canada thus, the American army had troops from these nations, and this made it easier during the planning and executed of the attacks towards the enemy nations (Owen & Maurer, 2012). Among many other nations, the American government felt that there was a need to defend human rights of the vulnerable children and women in the Arab nations where mistreatment of such groups was very rampant. In this project, we will try scrutinize all the r easons that provoked the US government to plot the main attack on Afghanistan, the challenges it faced in this endeavor and the strengths that facilitated its conquest. The US plotted the attack taking terrorist mastermind who had been the leader and main organizer of the Al-Qaeda group based in that country. The Taliban government had been ruling with extremist version of Islam throughout the country hence violating countless human rights and propagating a lot of abuse on the children, women, girls, and ethnic Hazaras (Roy-Bhattacharya, 2012). The United States of America had tried to negotiate with the Taliban government to surrender Osama bin Laden for persecution but this yield no fruit. The attack forced the US government to plot the attack and use excessive force so as make sure to attain their goal. They also sort to overthrow the Taliban government since it had failed in its role in providing its citizen with basic needs and commodities such as food, water and

Management and Gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Management and Gender - Essay Example That the world is critical and reflective in thinking is a matter that is underscored by the many theories which try to explain gender relations. Many theoretical standpoints and postulations abound to divulge on gender relations, by analysing the dynamics of male-female relationships within the auspices of the society. As opposed to the 19th century developments which mainly delved on gender parity at the domestic level, the 1950s opened a new era which was characterised by the quest to have gender equality entrenched even in the corporate sector. This is the case with the UK, the US, the West and the rest of the developed world (Maleta, 2011, 75). The importance of theoretical standpoints that explain gender relations is that they help inculcate understanding on the history, nature and dynamics of gender relations, with the main goal being, providing directly or indirectly, the panacea to the problem of gender imbalance at the workplace, or any other sphere of the human society. Likewise, according to Moore (2012, 620), the need to relook the issue of gender and corporate life is underscored by the fact that in spite of women having been incorporated in the corporate life of developed countries, yet female presence is yet inadequately represented at the managerial level of corporate life. Theoretical Explanation on Gender Imbalance in Management One of the most moving theories on gender is that of Julia Kristeva. Kristeva’s theory has been applicable in the field of semiotics. Kristeva’s theory in explaining gender disparity and relations at the managerial level of the corporate life has a topical theme of abjec tion. Particularly, Kristeva structures subjectivity on abjection of the mother, arguing that a society is constructed just as an individual abjects or excludes his mother as a way of curving out an identity. Kristeva continues that just as individuals, patriarchal cultures exclude the feminine to either come into being, or consolidate its position (Cousineau and Roth, 2012, 430). Beyer (2011, 307) contends that the implication of Kristeva’s postulation is that the inability to perpetuate gender parity in organisational management is not so much occasioned by characteristics inherent in women, as is by unequal sexist relations, structures and policies which have been entrenched by a male-dominated society. This discourse will thus look into the issue of gender and management, in light of Kristeva’s theoretical postulations. Indicators of un/Equal Gender Representation in Management A critical examination of the corporate, entrepreneurial and public sectors shows the in ordinate concentration of men in management. One of the indicators of the gender gap in the British business sector is the stunted rise in