When sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is added to luminol, a chemical reaction occurs that releases energy in the form of light. This is called chemiluminescence. The bleach solution acts as an oxidizing agent, which means it takes electrons away from the luminol molecule. This causes the luminol molecule to become excited, and it releases the energy as light.
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The luminol molecule is made up of two amino groups, a carbonyl group, and an azo group. The amino groups are electron-rich, while the carbonyl group is electron-poor. The azo group is a conjugated system, which means that the electrons in the double bonds can move freely from one atom to another.
When sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution is added to luminol, the bleach molecules react with the amino groups of the luminol molecule. This reaction takes electrons away from the luminol molecule, which causes the luminol molecule to become oxidized. The oxidized luminol molecule is in an excited state, which means that it has more energy than it normally does.
The excited luminol molecule then releases the extra energy as light. This light is called chemiluminescence. The light emitted by the chemiluminescence reaction is blue because the luminol molecule has a blue fluorescence.
The chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and sodium hypochlorite is catalyzed by the presence of a metal ion, such as iron or copper. The metal ion helps to stabilize the excited state of the luminol molecule, which makes it more likely to release the extra energy as light.
The chemiluminescence reaction is very sensitive to impurities, so it is important to use pure chemicals. The reaction can also be affected by the pH of the solution. The optimal pH for the reaction is around 9.
The chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and sodium hypochlorite can be used to detect blood, as the iron in hemoglobin can catalyze the reaction. The reaction is also used in some commercial products, such as glow sticks and emergency lights.
I hope you enjoyed learning about this. ❤️🙏
There are few places on Earth as isolated as Trindade island, a volcanic outcrop a three- to four-day boat trip off the coast of Brazil.
So geologist Fernanda Avelar Santos was startled to find an unsettling sign of human impact on the otherwise untouched landscape: rocks formed from the glut of plastic pollution floating in the ocean.
Santos first found the plastic rocks in 2019, when she traveled to the island to research her doctoral thesis on a completely different topic—landslides, erosion and other “geological risks.”
She was working near a protected nature reserve known as Turtle Beach, the world’s largest breeding ground for the endangered green turtle, when she came across a large outcrop of the peculiar-looking blue-green rocks.
Intrigued, she took some back to her lab after her two-month expedition.
Analyzing them, she and her team identified the specimens as a new kind of geological formation, merging the materials and processes the Earth has used to form rocks for billions of years with a new ingredient: plastic trash.
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Biology Keychains - Diatoms and Soil Bacteria!
Designed by me, available now on my Etsy!
[Hotwheels gen. nov., a new ground spider genus (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) from southwest China]
The generic name refers to Hot Wheels, a collectible die-cast toy car made by Mattel, as the long, coiled embolus of this new genus resembles a Hot Wheels track; neuter in gender.
Liu & Zhang, 2024
Metabolic Modeling of Gut Bacteria in Fish Fed Agricultural Waste: Implications for Human Health (Bioinformatic work)
TSIA, Citrate, TSIA
Do I have like 3 other microbiology courses in my future? Yes. Will I miss this lab? Also yes, a lot. I loved this lab. My first introduction to real microbiology. The lab that made me realize I want to go into microbiology in the future. I'm happy to have taken it :)
Greetings, Tumblr community! 🧠💡 Let's engage in a comprehensive exploration of the sodium-potassium pump, dissecting its molecular intricacies and elucidating its critical role in cellular homeostasis.
Introduction:
The sodium-potassium pump, residing within the cellular membrane, is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent transmembrane protein pivotal for maintaining ionic balance. Its primary function is to actively transport three sodium ions out of the cell while concurrently importing two potassium ions.
Functional Mechanism:
In terms of mechanistic precision, the sodium-potassium pump operates as an ATPase enzyme, utilizing the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis. This primary active transport process involves sequential conformational changes within the pump's structure.
The process commences with the binding of intracellular sodium ions to high-affinity sites on the pump. Subsequent phosphorylation, facilitated by ATP, induces conformational alterations that render the pump receptive to extracellular potassium ions. This triggers dephosphorylation, allowing potassium ions to be released intracellularly.
This orchestrated ion exchange serves to uphold the electrochemical gradient across the cellular membrane, establishing and preserving the resting membrane potential. In essence, the sodium-potassium pump is the architect of the delicate balance between sodium and potassium concentrations.
Physiological Significance:
The physiological ramifications of this meticulous ion transport extend to neuronal excitability and osmoregulation. By contributing to the establishment of the resting membrane potential, the pump plays a pivotal role in regulating action potentials and facilitating the propagation of nerve impulses.
Additionally, the pump actively participates in cellular volume control through osmoregulation. Its influence on water movement prevents cellular swelling or shrinkage, underscoring its significance in maintaining cellular integrity.
For those seeking empirical validation, consider consulting the following authoritative sources:
1. **Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al.** Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002. Section 11.3, The Plasma Membrane.
2. **Nelson DL, Cox MM.** Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th edition. New York: W.H. Freeman; 2017. Chapter 11, Active Transport and the Cytoskeleton.
3. **Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al.** Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000. Section 15.1, The Transport of Small Molecules Across Membranes.
Immerse yourself in the scientific intricacies of cellular dynamics with these foundational resources! 📚✨