Chemistry and Biochemistry Academy

You should be careful when buying ripe banana fruit in Kenya market. Some unscrupulous business persons are using a chemical to hasten the ripening process of banana to boost their sales; however, this chemical (calcium carbide) causes cancer.   What is calcium carbide?   Calcium carbide is a chemical with chemical formula CaC 2 . Industrially it is used to produce acetylene gas and calcium cyanamide.   Calcium carbide is produced in electric arc furnace at around temperature of 2200 degree centigrade as shown in chemical reaction below: CaO(s) + 3C(s) = CaC 2 (s) + CO (g), more on this can be accessed from Calcium Carbide The acetylene gas acts the same way as the ethylene naturally produced hormone by plants to initiate the ripening process.   Business people take calcium carbide and dissolve it in water to give acetylene gas and  spread calcium carbide solution over the bunch of the banana and then cover the banana bunch for one and half day. During the process of ac

The diagram explaining pathways of glucose in human body.

Introduction  Rust causes major destruction in different parts of the world. It destroys iron corrugated houses roofs, fella fridges, cars, sink ships and so on.   Rust is referred to as the evil and great destroyer. In    U.S rust costs Americans nearly $ 4000 yearly greater than the cost of all the natural disaster combined.   Rust is a reddish brown substance formed on the surface of metals like steel and aluminum. Rust is an electrochemical process that needs the presence of an electrolyte (Fe), oxygen (O) and water (H 2 O), which electrolytes react with oxygen in the presence of water to form an iron (iii) oxide or FeO 3 .H 2 O. When water consisting of small quantity of dissolved oxygen, the electrolyte (Fe) is oxidized as shown in the equation: Fe(s) →Fe 2+ (aq) + 2e- The electrons produced in the process are quickly accepted by the dissolved oxygen (O 2 (aq)) and hydrogen ions from water and this reaction occur at the edge of the water to produce water. O 2