What are Antioxidants And Know The Details
In the beginning, the word antioxidants was used to refer to chemicals that where used to prevent oxygen consumption. These antioxidants can be thought as molecules which have the ability to prevent other molecules from undergoing oxidation (which is the process of losing hydrogen or gaining oxygen).
In the past studies in antioxidants were majored on their use in the prevention of oxidation which was carried out on unsaturated fat and was seen as causing rancidity. Rancidity is a condition whereby there is fat decomposition through oxidation or hydrolysis. The consumption rate was measured by placing the fat in sealed container. However, there was an overturn in the field of antioxidants which was seen as a result of the discovery of vitamin C, A and E. This discovery increased the knowledge in biochemistry of living things and how antioxidants affect their functioning.
Antioxidants perform the duty of terminating chain reactions which tend to damage the cells. The said reactions are as a result of free radicals (atoms, ions or molecules that have unpaired electrons) which are brought about by oxidation reactions.
Detailed studies were performed in late 19th century and start of the 20th century and their focus was on the use of antioxidants in performing industrial processes. The pursed uses were:
Metal Corrosion Prevention: Antioxidants can prevent metals from the loss of electrons which is caused by reaction of metal with oxygen and water. The results of this a commonly known as rusting.
Rubber Vulcanization: This involves extremely high heat with addition of other equal curatives. This is a curing process that involves heat and additives of the same proportion. The results is the cross-linking of lesser or higher extent of the springy rubber molecules making the material harder, increasing its durability. In addition, rubber vulcanization increases the smoothness of materials surface preventing it from sticking onto metals and it also increase its resistance to chemical attack.
Fuel Polymerization: This is the process through which three-dimensional networks are formed through chemical reactions involving the reaction of monomer molecules (small molecules which are linked chemically or connected with monomers to form polymers). In fuel industries, polymerization is the process by which olefin gases are converted into liquid condensed products which are thought suitable for liquid fuels. This is done under controlled process. Two categories of monomers exist:
Synthetic Monomers: These include hydrocarbons such as alkenes. Some of the commercial monomers include methyl methacrylate, acrylamide and also acrylic acid.
Natural Monomers: Amino acids are found under this category and they are normally polymerized to create proteins. Nucleic acids are formed after the polymerization of nucleotides monomers which are found in the cell nucleus. Dehydration can be termed as the polymerization reaction which follows the formations of water amidst the products.