Skincare Flashcards
What is UV light?
high energy light capable of breaking chemical bonds.
What is a benefit of UV light?
It allows us to make vitamin D.
What are some concerns regarding UV light exposure?
It can cause skin to age, sunburn, and has been linked to skin cancer.
What do sunscreens do?
They filter UV light so that less reaches the skin.
What do sunblocks do?
They reflect UV light so that none reaches the skin at all.
What is a free radical?
An unstable and highly reactive atom with an unpaired electron.
What is a free radical scavenger?
A molecule that reacts with free radicals to prevent a chain reaction.
Describe, briefly, the initiation step of free radical reactions.
The initiation step of a free radical reaction is when a stable molecule (usually a halogen) is broken apart by heat or UV light, forming two free radicals.
Describe, briefly, the propagation step of free radical reactions.
The propagation step of a free radical reaction involves a free radical reacting with a stable molecule, forming a new molecule and another free radical—which continues the chain reaction.
Describe, briefly, the termination step of free radical reactions.
The termination step of a free radical reaction occurs when two free radicals react together, forming a stable molecule and stopping the chain reaction.
