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 early times, antioxidants were basically used to prevent the process of oxidation which took place in unsaturated fats and was the cause of rancidity (a way through which fats decompose by oxidation or hydrolysis). The oxygen consumption rate was measured by placing fats in a sealed container. But revolution in the sector of antioxidants came as a result of discovering vitamin A, C and E, which were the sight into biochemistry of living things and how antioxidants affect them.
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:
Preventing mental corrosion: The reaction of metal with water and oxygen makes the metal to loose its electrons therefore one of the functions of antioxidants is to prevent this reactions. This is what is commonly known as rusting.
Vulcanization of Rubber: This is a specific curing procedure involving rubber in which high heat and other curatives are used. The end result is a cross-link of rubber that is lees or more springy. The material is made harder hence increasing its durability. Its smoothness is also increased so as to avoid sticking to metal and it also resists chemical attacks more.
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.