Questions & Answers
acid mantle - ANSWERSProtective barrier of lipids and secretions on the surface of the
skin.
acid-alkali neutralization reactions - ANSWERSWhen an acid is mixed with an alkali in
equal proportions to neutralize each other and form water and a salt.
acids - ANSWERSSubstances that have a pH below 7.0, taste sour, and turn litmus
paper from blue to red.
air - ANSWERSThe gaseous mixture that makes up the Earth's atmosphere. It is
odorless, colorless, and generally consists of about 1 part oxygen and 4 parts nitrogen
by volume.
alkalis (bases) - ANSWERSAlso known as bases; compounds that react with acids to
form salts; have a pH above 7.0 (neutral), taste bitter, and turn litmus paper from red to
blue.
anion - ANSWERSAn ion with a negative electrical charge.
antioxidants - ANSWERSUsed to stabilize skin care products by preventing oxidation
that would otherwise cause a product to turn rancid and decompose. They are vitamins
such as A, C, and E, which can be applied topically in products or taken internally to
increase healthy body functions.
atoms - ANSWERSThe smallest chemical components (often called particles) of an
element that still retains the properties of that element.
cation - ANSWERSIon with a positive electrical charge.
chemical change - ANSWERSChange in the chemical properties of a substance that is
the result of a chemical reaction in which a new substance or substances are formed
that have properties different from the original.
chemical compounds - ANSWERSCombinations of two or more atoms of different
elements united chemically with a fixed chemical composition, definite proportions, and
distinct properties.
chemical properties - ANSWERSThose characteristics that can only be determined by a
chemical reaction and a chemical change in the identity of the substance.
, chemistry - ANSWERSScience that deals with the composition, structures, and
properties of matter and how matter changes under different conditions.
combustion - ANSWERSRapid oxidation of any substance, accompanied by the
production of heat and light.
compound molecules (compounds) - ANSWERSAlso known as compounds; a chemical
combination of two or more atoms of different elements in definite (fixed) proportions.
element - ANSWERSThe simplest form of matter; cannot be broken down into a simpler
substance without loss of identity.
elemental molecules - ANSWERSMolecule containing two or more atoms of the same
element in definite (fixed) proportions.
emulsions - ANSWERSAn unstable physical mixture of two or more immiscible
substances (substances that normally will not stay blended) plus a special ingredient
called an emulsifier.
free radicals - ANSWERSUnstable molecules that cause inflammation, disease, and
biochemical aging in the body, especially wrinkling and sagging of the skin. Free
radicals are super oxidizers that cause an oxidation reaction and produce a new free
radical in the process that are created by highly reactive atoms or molecules (often
oxygen).
gases - ANSWERSMatter without a definite shape or size. No fixed volume or shape;
takes the shape of its container.
hydrogen - ANSWERSColorless, odorless, tasteless gas; the lightest element known.
hydrogen peroxide - ANSWERSChemical compound of hydrogen and oxygen; a
colorless liquid with a characteristic odor and a slightly acid taste.
hydrophilic - ANSWERSEasily absorbs moisture; in chemistry terms, capable of
combining with or attracting water (water-loving).
hydroxide - ANSWERSAn anion (an ion with a negative electrical charge) with one
oxygen and one hydrogen atom.
immiscible - ANSWERSLiquids that are not capable of being mixed together to form
stable solutions.
inorganic chemistry - ANSWERSThe study of substances that do not contain the
element carbon, but may contain the element hydrogen.
ion - ANSWERSAn atom or molecule that carries an electrical charge.