Food and other products that we use every day, such as toothpaste or soap, often have unfamiliar chemical names on their ingredients labels – even basic ingredients like salt, water, and baking soda – and they are often labeled with technical names: sodium chloride, water, and sodium bicarbonate.
Why is ingredient labeling so complex? Product manufacturers and chemists often rely on technical standards to help ensure quality and consistency when labeling their chemical products. While this means that labels may include chemical names that are unfamiliar, using a small study using trusted sources (such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or product manufacturer), you can find out why chemistry, or any other specific ingredient, a product, and what benefits it offers.
Here are some examples of chemical products and their benefits in some everyday products:
Ingredients of toothpaste
The sodium bicarbonate in toothpaste, often called baking soda, helps to polish teeth.
Sodium fluoride in toothpaste and other dental care products can help prevent tooth decay.
Calcium carbonate, dehydrated silica gel, hydrated aluminum oxide, magnesium carbonate, phosphate and silicate are other compounds contained in toothpaste. Their unique properties help to remove tooth debris and surface residual stains.
Sorbitol, a sugar extracted from fruits, corn and seaweed, makes toothpaste more delicious.
Ingredients of skin care products
In personal care products such as make-up or shaving cream, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ethyl hydroxybenzoate, propyl hydroxybenzoate, butyl hydroxybenzoate, isopropyl hydroxybenzoate and isobutyl hydroxybenzoate are very effective in preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria and yeasts.
Preservatives can help extend the shelf life of products and prevent contamination and harmful bacteria from being used in sunscreen products, lotions, shampoos, cleaners, toothpaste and cosmetics.
Propylene glycol and polypropylene glycol (also known as 1,2- propanediol) are often found in skin care products such as moisturizers, creams and lotions. This compound helps the skin absorb moisture. When added with moisturizing products, it helps to enhance the skin's appearance, reduce flaking and restore flexibility.
Titanium dioxide is mined from the earth and further processed and purified for consumer products (such as cosmetics, nail products, bath soap, foot powder and over-the-counter sun protection products). Titanium dioxide is a colorant that helps whiten the product and increase transparency. Titanium dioxide absorbs, reflects and scatters light, making it a key ingredient in some sun protection products, protecting the skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Ingredients of soap
Lauryl polyether sulphate sodium and lauryl polyether sulphate ammonium are helpful to produce soap bubbles in products such as foam bath, bath soap, detergent and shampoo, and help to clean hair and skin.
Three chlorkaban is an antibacterial product used in soaps and disinfectant foam solutions (foam hand sanitizers and wound care products) to help reduce the harmful bacteria on the skin and reduce the spread of bacteria.
Surfactants are commonly used in soaps to help remove dust and grease from hair and skin.
How to read the label of chemical products
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the use of hazardous chemical labels in its recently revised hazard communication standards for people who work in chemical products or in industrial environments. All labels require pictograms, a signal word, a hazard and prevention statement, product identifier and supplier identification.
