Every molecule tells a story / Simon Cotton. — Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, c2012. – (54.21/C851e)

Contents

    Contents
    
    Preface xi
    The Author xiii
    Chapter 1 Atmosphere and Water 1
    Nitrogen (Dinitrogen， N2) 1
    Oxygen (Dioxygen， 02) 2
    Ozone (Trioxygen， 03) 2
    Carbon Dioxide， CO2 3
    Noble Gases 4
    Water 6
    Deuterium Oxide (Heavy Water) 7
    Hydrogen Peroxide 8
    Chapter 2 Carbohydrates and Artificial Sweeteners 11
    Introduction 11
    Trehalose 14
    Polysaccharides 15
    Chapter 3 Hydrocarbons 21
    Chapter 4 Acids and Alkalis 29
    Acids 29
    Alkalis 36
    Chapter 5 Steroids and Sex 41
    Introduction 41
    Testosterone 43
    Man-Made Anabolic Steroids 45
    Contraception 49
    Sex Means More Than Steroids 51
    Chapter 6 The Senses 55
    Carotene and Vision 55
    Taste 57
    Smell 59
    Chiral Molecules and Smell 60
    Pyrazines and Smell 61
    Pheromones 63
    Human Pheromones? 67
    Chapter 7 Cosmetics and Perfumes 69
    Shampoo 69
    Hair Colouring and Waving 70
    Nail Varnish 71
    Face Powder 72
    Lipstick 72
    Mascara and Eye Shadow 73
    Sunscreen and Tanning 73
    Toothpaste 74
    Bad Breath and Mouthwash 75
    Body Odours and Deodorants 76
    Perfumes 77
     Rose 78
     Musks 81
     Nitromusks 82
     Polycyclic Musks 83
     Macrocyclic Musks 84
     Vanillin 85
     Aldehydes and 2-Methylundecanal 87
    Chapter 8 Natural Killers 91
    Curare 91
    Frog Venoms 91
    Tetrodotoxin 94
    Cone Snail Venoms (Conotoxins) 95
    Spider Venoms 97
    Scorpion Venoms 98
    Snake Venoms 98
    Strychnine 100
    Chapter 9 Unnatural Killers 103
    Dimethylmercury 103
    Tetraethyllead 104
    Nerve Agents 106
    CS and Mustard Gas 3
    Mustard Gas 114
    Thalidomide 115
    Chapter 10 Explosives 119
    Detecting Explosives 124
    Chapter 11 Pleasure Molecules 125
    Phenylethylamine 125
    Amphetamine 125
    Methamphetamine 126
    Ecstasy 128
    Ritalin (Methylphenidate) 130
    Caffeine 131
    Cocaine 133
    Designer Drugs 136
    Ethanol 142
    LSD 144
    Nicotine 148
    Chapter 12 Natural Healers 153
    Galantamine 153
    Opium and Morphine 154
    Heroin 157
    Penicillin 159
    Quinine and Antimalarials 162
    Taxol (Paclitaxel) 167
    Tetracycline 170
    Vancomycin 172
    Vinca Alkaloids 173
    Chapter 13 Man-Made Healers
    Aspirin
    Ibuprofen
    Phenacetin
    Acetanilide
    Acetaminophen
    Acyclovir
    Beta-Blockers and Atenolol
    Azidothymidine
    Cisplatin and Other Platinum Anticancer Drugs
    Linezolid
    Antidepressants
    Antiulcer Drugs
    Sulfanilamide and the Sulfonamides
    Antiflu Drugs
    Chapter 14 Synthetic Polymers 199
    Polythene (or Polyethylene) 199
    Polyvinyl Chloride， Poly(chloroethene) 200
    Teflon， Poly(tetrafluoroethene)， PTFE 201
    Polystyrene (Poly(phenylethene)) 202
    Poly(methyl cyanoacrylate) 202
    Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) 203
    Nylon 204
    Terylene 206
    Kevlar 206
    Polyurethane 208
    Bibliography 211
    Index 245