The
CHEMISTRY
of
THANKSGIVING
How Does the Pop-Up
Timer Work?
A. Plunger
B. Case
C. Spring
D. Blob of metal (Solder)
All matter is made up of atoms which combine
together to form molecules.
All atoms & molecules have a specific Melting
Point, Boiling Point, and Freezing Point.
Melting Point of the Solder in the Pop-Up
Timer is 185⁰F.
A turkey is done when it’s Internal
Temperature has reached 185⁰F.
Mashed Potatoes
Vs.
Mashed Paper Towels??
Potato
Paper Towel
ALPHA Linkage
BETA Linkage
Why Do Muffins Rise?
Recipe
2 Cups Flour
3 Tsp Baking Soda Stir until flour is just
damp.
(NaHCO3)
Pour into muffin tins
2 Tbsp Sugar
immediately.
1 Egg
1 Cup Milk
(Lactic Acid)
NaHCO3 + HA (Milk) → H2CO3 + NaA
H2CO3 →CO2 + H2O
What Causes that
Bloated Feeling?
Besides the obvious overeating and stuffing
your stomach and intestines with food…
Cold carbonated beverages release CO2, which
fill and stretch your intestines.
Which Antacid Works
the Best?
To digest food, stomach releases acid.
When there’s a lot of food, your body releases a lot
of acid.
Antacids are bases that neutralize the extra
acid.
In the process of neutralization, CO2 is
produced…
Burp!
What About
Tryptophan?
Tryptophan tends to be blamed for the tired after-
dinner feeling, however it is a combo of several
things
Tryptophan – amino acid which can be metabolized
into serotonin & melatonin, and must be taken on an
empty stomach to make you drowsy.
High Carb meal actually increases the production of
tryptophan in the brain & serotonin synthesis.
Fats take a lot of time and energy to digest.
Overeating uses a lot of extra energy for digestion.
Relaxing to eat carries over to after the meal.
Diane Bunce, Ph.D., recipient of the ACS Helen
Free Award for Public Outreach, who discussed
the topic in a demonstration at The Catholic
University of America (CUA) in Washington,
D.C. Bunce is a professor of chemistry at CUA
and associate editor for Chemical Education
research for ACS’ Journal of Chemical
Education.