Household Chemicals and Personal Care Products Most disinfectants, such as alcohol and chlorine, work by denaturing proteins of

microorganisms. When their proteins are damaged, metabolic processes are disrupted, causing
Cleaning products contain substances that remove dirt, stain, and bad smell. There are
different cleaning products, and some of them are used to clean surfaces such as bathroom tiles,
floors, sinks, and drains. Others are used to clean clothing, blankets, and curtains.
A detergent contains surfactants, which are substances with cleaning properties.
Surfactants have long water-insoluble hydrocarbon tail and water-soluble polar heads. When
these molecules are placed in water, they form micelles. They orient themselves with the
hydrocarbon tails, sticking to one another while the polar heads are pointing outwards and into
the water.
A mixture of detergent and water is a colloid. Micelles are dispersed throughout the water, so
the mixture appears cloudy. When oil or grease is present, the micelle disperses and entraps
the grease. When the detergent is rinsed out, the grease comes with it.
death.
The active ingredient is the compound that acts to fulfill the function of a said product. A
finished household product is usually a mixture of many different compounds.
All products have an active ingredient that enables it to work. Some products only have one
active ingredient while others may have more than one. Here are some important pointers in
determining the active ingredient.
 The active ingredient can be classified as acidic, basic, or neutral.
 The determination of its acidity or alkalinity often dictates how the product will work.
 The active ingredient must always be labelled in consumer goods.

Bleach is a household cleaning agent used to remove dyes and whiten clothing. The color that
stains white fabrics typically arise from organic dyes and pigments. For example, when carrot
juice spills on your white garment, the pigment beta-carotene binds with the fabric.
Chlorine-based bleach is used to break the chemical bonds of the pigment. The pigment is
changed to a different substance that do not absorb visible light. Hence, the stained garment
appears white again.
Importance of an Active Ingredient
Knowing the active ingredient in certain products will tell you what function they can
serve. Product labels are required to put down their active ingredients. Some of these
ingredients may be toxic to the user or even to the environment. In some cases, a few household
products will share the same active ingredient, allowing them to be used for different purposes.
While other products may have the same function, they have different active ingredients.

Air freshener or purifier is used to emit fragrance in different spaces at home, especially in
restrooms. It can be in the form of spray, candle, oil, bead, or gel. Its main purpose is to
eliminate or mask unpleasant odors. Its name is misleading though because it does not really
freshen or purify the air.

Solid or liquid air fresheners (candle, oil, bead, or gel) have volatile fragrant molecules. These
molecules easily change from solid or liquid into gas, even at room temperature. When they
mix with air, they move via diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of particles from higher
concentration to lower concentration. Hence, the air freshener molecules spread out across the
room.
The active ingredient determines the mode of action of a specific product.
Spray air fresheners are aerosols. Aerosols are colloids of solid or liquid particles in gas. The
fragrant molecules dissolve in air. When these molecules are allowed to escape their spray
containers, they mix with air, and the fragrant smell spreads.  Dissolution - A common mode of action based on the principle of like-dissolves-like
and the concept of solvent – solute interactions.
 Acid–Base - Certain substances are either acidic or basic. An acid will react with a
Disinfectant base, or vice versa, allowing it to be dissolved or carried away by water.
A disinfectant is an antimicrobial household product. It kills microorganisms on surfaces of  Reduction – Oxidation - Oxidizing agents work to convert certain substances into
inanimate objects. Note that it is different from antiseptics, which are used on living things water-soluble ions.
to kill microorganisms. The effectiveness of a disinfectant depends on the number of  Surfactants - Detergents and soaps can be classified as surfactants. They form tiny
microorganisms, environment (temperature), time of exposure, and nature of microorganisms. vessels known as micelles that carry away the undesired material.
  Disinfectant - The reagent targets a biological organism responsible for an undesired
effect.
A cleaning agent is a mixture of many compounds. They are considered as additive
ingredients. These additive ingredients have some functions in the product. Some ingredients
are added to mixtures while others have more complex mechanisms.
Some functions if additive ingredients include: solvents, fragrance enhancers, masking
agents, builders, preservatives, antimicrobial agents, and bubble enhancers.
A solvent is often used to increase the quantity of the cleaning agent. The solvent is used to
dilute the cleaning agent to its minimum functional concentration. For instance, ethanol which
is used as a disinfectant is functional at 40% solution while bleach can be functional as low as
5% solution.
In other cases, fragrance enhancers are added to products to mask a more putrid smell.
Particularly, bathroom cleaners use these added fragrances. Fragrances often come in the form
of essential oils.
A scent of a product is often underestimated in terms of its toxic effects. Some cleaning agents
have masking agents to remove fragrance for chemically sensitive users or people who
present with allergies. However, the molecule of fragrance still remains in the product.
The term 'builders' is something used in discussing surfactants. In the case of cleaning
agents, these builders are often present in detergents. Builders are substances that prevent
other contaminants from reacting with the active ingredient in the detergent.
Cleaning agents that are stored for long term periods need some sort of preservative to keep
the active ingredient functional. These may come in the form of salts, organic reagents, or
buffers that maintain pH balance
Antimicrobial reagents
Microbes are often the cause of infection or cause some products to degrade. The purpose of a
cleaning agent is to maintain the appearance or use of a certain material. Therefore it would
make sense for antimicrobials to be present in cleaning agents.
Adding bubble enhancers to allow detergents to do their job more effectively by enhancing
the covered area of the surfactant. The formation of foam/bubbles facilitates the surfactant by
aiding in the accumulation of unwanted particles.
To summarize, the functions of additive ingredients are (but not limited to the following):
 serve as disinfectant for hygienic purposes and to prolong the shelf life of the product
 enhance or mask a specific property; and
 protect the active ingredient from attacking other molecules
Triclosan is an example of an antimicrobial additive that reduces or prevents bacterial
contamination. They are usually present in toothpastes and soaps.
Sodium tripolyphosphate is a common example of a builder found in detergents. It allows
surfactants to work at their full potential. It also acts as a pH buffer and prevents deposition of
soil.
Personal care products are consumer products used in personal hygiene and for
beautification. These products have two classifications, personal hygienic items and cosmetics
though there is only a small distinction between the two. Personal hygienic items are the
products people use to keep themselves clean while cosmetics are often described as luxury
products used for enhancement of physical beauty.
Products for Personal Hygiene
Shampoo and conditioner are both haircare products. They are viscous liquids used to
clean hair. They are used by applying them to wet hair, massaging them into the scalp, and
rinsing them.
Shampoos are particularly used to remove the unwanted buildup of dust and other particles
on the hair without stripping out sebum. Sebum, a mixture of triglycerides, wax, and fatty
acids, is secreted by the sebaceous gland in humans. The main function of sebum is to
lubricate the hair and keep it manageable.
Hair conditioners are used to change the texture and appearance of hair. When shampoos
strip out much sebum, hair conditioners provide the oils (EFAs - essential fatty acids) which
function as natural sebum. These EFAs keep the hair softer and more pliable. Conditioners also
often contain moisturizers, which hold moisture in the hair.
Soap is a personal care product used for bathing and cleaning the skin. It can remove the oil
and dirt particles adhered to the skin. These particles are often insoluble in water so they cannot
be washed off by water alone. Soap breaks up these particles into smaller sizes and mixes them
with water.
How does soap mix the insoluble particles with water?
Soap is made up of fatty acids, which are molecules with two different ends – hydrophobic and
hydrophilic ends. When mixed with water, the soap molecules form a micelle. The
hydrophobic ends attach to the unwanted particle while the hydrophilic ends are attracted to
water. So when water is used to rinse off the soap, dirt particles are washed away.
Facial Cleanser
Have you ever wondered why there are marketed cleansers especially made for
the face? Is there really a difference between the facial cleansers and body
soaps?
The skin on your face has more sebaceous glands than most parts of the body. Sebaceous
glandsproduce sebum which lubricates the skin and protects it from bacteria. Sebum reaches
the surface of the skin through the hair follicles. When sebaceous glands become overactive,
too much sebum is produced. The sebum is combined with dead cells (keratin) which are
naturally present in the skin, and their combination results in a plug. Because the follicle is
plugged, the bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes present in the skin proliferate. The
bacterial growth causes acne, the painful inflammation and swelling of the facial skin. Acne and
other facial skin diseases are often prevented using facial cleansers.
Facial cleansers remove makeup, dead skin cells, and dirt that can clog the pores. Best facial
cleansers should have a pH near 4.7, the average pH of the skin’s surface. Bar soaps with high
pH (9 to 10) can disrupt the pH balance of the skin and favor the overgrowth of P. acnes. Also,
the cleanser should not have thickeners which are present in bar soaps. These thickeners allow
the soaps to form a rigid bar shape, but they can clog the pores resulting in acnes. Lastly, bar
soaps may remove natural oils from the facial skin and cause sebaceous glands to overproduce
sebum, which eventually lead to clogged pores.
Deodorant and Antiperspirant
There are two types of sweat glands found in the skin, eccrine and apocrine glands. Eccrine
glandscan be found on almost all over the body, with the highest density in palms and soles.
They produce sweat, an odorless substance comprised mostly of water and sodium chloride.
They are active in thermoregulation because the evaporation of sweat has a cooling effect on
the body. On the other hand, apocrine glands are found only in certain areas of the body,
including armpits and some parts of external genitalia. These glands secrete an oily fluid which
is odorless before microbial activity. The oily fluid is comprised of fats and proteins which are
broken down by bacteria into certain acids with bad smell. The bad smell in the armpits is often
masked using personal care products such as deodorant and antiperspirant.
The terms deodorant and antiperspirant are often used interchangeably, but they actually
differ. Antiperspirants control sweat and body odor by preventing sweat to reach the skin
surface and by reducing the bacteria that cause body odor. Deodorants only contain
antimicrobial agents to prevent body odor, but they do not control sweat. However, both of
these products contain fragrances that mask the smell of body odor.
Toothpaste
When you eat, some food stays on your teeth. This food can be broken down by mouth bacteria
to form a sticky film called dental plaque. When plaque builds up and hardens, it forms
tartar. Tartar is a crusty deposit that traps stains on the teeth and causes discoloration. When
tartar forms, bacteria will build up and damage the gums. Pockets between gums and teeth will
form when the gums are infected with the bacteria. So to prevent the formation of plaque and
occurrence of gum disease, teeth must be cleaned by brushing. Plaque begins forming 4 to 12
hours after brushing so it is important to brush teeth at least twice a day.
Toothpaste is a paste or gel used with a toothbrush to remove food from the teeth and kill the
bacteria which cause bad breath. It contains abrasives which scrub away stains and plaque on
your teeth. Abrasives also polish the teeth so they look fresh and clean after brushing.
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances or products used to enhance the appearance or scent of the body
without affecting the body’s structure and functions. Common cosmetics include facial makeup
and fragrances.
Facial Makeup
Generally, women use more cosmetics than men. Many women apply facial makeup to enhance
their facial features or cover imperfections of the skin. They use products such as foundation,
concealer, lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, blush, eyeshadow pencil, mascara, and eyeliner.
Foundation is used to cover blemishes and even out skin color. When extra coverage is
needed to conceal acne and undereye circles, a concealer is used. A concealer is often thicker
and more solid than foundation so it can provide longer lasting coverage of skin imperfections.
Lipstick is intended to add color and texture to the lips. It is different from a lip gloss which
is intended to add shine to the lips. Lip balm is also used to add color, but its main purpose is
to moisturize and protect the lips from chapping.
Blush or rouge is used to add color to the cheeks to make them look more defined. Different
colors of blush compliment different skin tones.
Eyeshadow, eyebrow pencil, and mascara are all used to accentuate the eyes.
The eyeshadow is used to add color on the eyelids and under the eyebrows to make the eyes
more attractive while eyebrow pencil is used to darken the eyebrows to make them more
defined. Mascara is applied to darken the eyelashes and make them appear longer and
thicker.
Have you ever flipped through a catalogue of beauty products and found
different names for fragrances?
Cologne, eau de toilette, and perfume are the common names of fragrances. They all contain
essential oils, such as vanilla, rosehip, and peppermint oils, that are diluted with a solvent such
as ethanol, propylene glycol, and water. The difference among these fragrances is the
concentration of the essential oil.
Cologne is a shortened version of “eau de Cologne.” Eau is the French word for water
while Cologne came from the French city “Koln” where a particular scent was first made.
Cologne is the most diluted fragrance, with about 2 to 5% essential oils. It often smells sweet
and fruity. Because it has less essential oils and higher percent alcohol, its smell do not last very
long compared to other fragrances. It is not viscous so it is often applied by “splashing” it in the
body.
Eau de toilette or toilet water has more concentration of essential oil compared to cologne. It
has about 5 to 15% oil. Because it has more oil compared to alcohol, it is more viscous and is
often sold in spray bottles.
Perfume is the most concentrated of all the fragrance options so it is also the most expensive.
It has about 15 to 40% essential oils. It has thicker and oilier consistency so it is often in stopper
bottles.
Personal care products are products that people use for personal hygiene and
beautification.
Different personal care products that we usually use are listed below as well as their active
ingredients.
Deodorants
The major ingredients of deodorant include aluminum-based compounds such as aluminum
chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum zincronium.
A complex coordination compound involves a central atom (usually a metal ion) and
ligands that share its electrons with the electropositive central atom.
In deodorants, the aluminum compound usually forms a complex coordination
compound. Aluminum chlorohydrates is a general group of compounds that have
coordinate covalent bonds. These compounds block pores and the sweat glands in the armpit.
Body Lotions
Body lotions can be classified as emulsions. Emulsions are dispersions of fine particles that
do not dissolve in a medium. An emulsifier is a class of surfactant that is usually added to
make two immiscible substances miscible. Cetearyl alcohol is an example of an emulsifier.
Note the evident formation of micelles by the emulsifier molecule, allowing two immiscible
phases to dissolve.
he ability of a certain molecule to attract atmospheric moisture or moisture, in general, is
called hygroscopicity. Compounds such as glycerol are added to products that are meant to
be retained on the skin.
The structure of glycerol makes it a very viscous substance due to very strong intermolecular
forces. Furthermore, it is also a polar molecule which allows it attract water molecules. The
glycerol molecule is also the backbone of a triglyceride molecule. A triglyceride molecule, upon
hydrolysis, will release one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids.
Perfume
A perfume will contain essential oils and glycerol as its major components. Essential oils are
naturally extracted oils from plant or animal sources that have a strong fragrance. You will
notice that most of these compounds are organic by nature, and will require an organic solvent.
Essential oils are a group of volatile organic compounds. In contrast to glycerol, they have
relatively weak intermolecular forces, allowing their scent to be easily dispersed. As with most
organic compounds, essential oils can be classified as alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and others.
Unsaturated molecules generally have weaker intermolecular forces compared to their
saturated counterparts.
Shampoo/Conditioner
Major ingredients of shampoos include surfactants that form micelles. These shampoos usually
use ammonium compounds due to their high versatility to function as a surfactant and
thickening agents.
Ligands such as EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid) is added to help preserve the
shampoo from reacting with metals which can ruin the quality of the product. EDTA is a
commonly used chelating agent with a high affinity towards most metals
Soaps
Specialized soaps for skin are still made of surfactants that act the same way as detergents. The
application of surfactants can also be found in hand lotions, shampoos, and conditioners.
Make-ups
Make-ups are usually made up of colored pigments and/or metal oxides.
Pigments and metal oxides give color due absorption of visible light at a certain wavelength.
This absorption is possible due to certain structural configuration or electronic transitions.
Electronic transitions are made possible by movement of electrons to empty orbitals as with
the case of adjacent double bonds (conjugation) or transition metals.
You often choose a cleaning or personal care product based on its effectiveness, popularity, and
price. Have you also considered its effect on your health and on the environment?
Effects on Human Health
Personal care products are applied on the body, so there is a possibility that their ingredients
enter the body through skin absorption or by ingestion. Therefore, it is important that these
products are healthy and nontoxic.
When choosing a personal care product, learn to read the labels. Be aware of toxic substances
that may be found in the product you want to buy. Below are some of the substances you have
to avoid.
 Poisonous heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and mercury can be found in a wide
range of personal care products. When these heavy metals enter the body, they can
accumulate and replace the metals that are normally present for specific functions in
the body. They can often be found in products such as whitening toothpaste, lipstick,
sunscreen, and concealers.
 Hydroquinone is often found in skin lighteners and facial cleansers. This substance
has been reported as a cancer-causing agent and respiratory tract irritant. It has been
banned in Europe and restricted in Canada. However, many products sold in Asia still
contain hydroquinone.
 Phthalates are substances often found in color cosmetics, fragrance lotions, and hair
care products. They are linked to endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity. They
are often written in labels as phthalate, DEP, DEHP, or DBP. Choose products labelled
"phthalate-free," but consider their other ingredients.
 Nitrosamines are substances produced by diethanolamine (DEA) and
truethanolamine (TEA) which are both found in nearly every kind of personal care
product. They cause organ system toxicity and endocrine system disruption. It is safe
to avoid products containing DEA and TEA.
Effects on the Environment
Cleaning products are often disposed in the environment. For instance, detergents are mixed
with water that goes down the drain. Hence, the detergent may find its way into the ground and
into bodies of water. It is important that these products are safe for the environment. Below are
some properties you need to consider in buying products.
Corrosive
These corrosive products are often presented in dilute amounts, some, may not be even harmful
upon acute exposure. However, prolonged exposure (if not immediately washed and rinsed
with water) can lead to corrosive burns.
These also serve as a warning to keep away from the eyes and nose. Aerosolized products once
dispersed can be light enough to linger in the air. These molecules can then make contact with
the eye, or be inhaled.
Poison/Toxic
As mentioned in previous topics, certain products are really meant to act as a poison. A
pesticide is harmful towards certain organisms. But remember, toxicity is a function of
concentration. If you are exposed constantly, certain toxins may accumulate.
More than symbols, product labels provide certain information that is essential for the
product’s use and maintenance.
Storage Instructions
Products contain information about specific storage instructions to keep their functionality.
Directions for Use
Products such as pesticides have specific instructions to better use the product while
maintaining the health of the user and the materials which these household products are
applied to.
Manufacturing and Expiration Date
Keeping track of the expiration date has obvious reasons. You would not want the product to
be expired before using it. However, the manufacturing date is also important to keep track of.
In the event of an incident (poisoning, etc.), manufacturers can track the product down in order
to make sure that the batch of products is recalled for further testing and analysis. This is a
process called quality assurance wherein products are randomly tested for the
concentration of their ingredients and other parameters.