Essential Oils Flashcards
What are essential oils?
Oils which contain the essence of the plant from which they are derived.
What are essential oils widely used in?
Aromatherapy.
Essential oils are volatile, what does this mean?
They evaporate easily at low temperatures.
Are essential oils hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
Hydrophobic.
How can essential oils be separated?
By steam distillation which involves heating the plant with water.
What are terpenes?
Unsaturated hydrocarbons formed by joining together units of isoprene.
What is the systematic name for terpenes?
2methylbutan-1,3-diene
What is ultraviolet radiation?
A type of electromagnetic radiation.
What are the three types of ultraviolet radiation?
UV-A
UV-B
UV-C
What is the protein in our skin called?
Collagen.
Why can exposure to UV radiation result in premature ageing?
The bonds in the collagen are broken down by UV radiation and so skin loses its elasticity.
How do the two types of sunscreen work?
One reflects the UV radiation. The other converts the Uv radiation into heat energy.
Why is octyl methoxycinnamate added to sunscreen?
It absorbs UV radiation as it has a lot of double bonds.
What is a free radical?
An atom with an unpaired electron.
Vitamin A is added to sunscreen to get rid of free radicals. What name is given to these substances?
Free radical scavengers.
