Today I learned that we can estimate fossil age by determining the fraction of amino acid that has transformed into the D enantiomer in a fossil. Amino acids don't have enough vapor pressure for the GC, so you make a volatile derivative and send that through. I love it when ochem mixes with quant. Enantiomers are mirror-image compounds that cannot be superimposed. They have the same constituents, yet they have ways of being organized that can completely change the function and abilities of the molecule. The best example of this is your hands. They cannot be placed on top of one another and match up, yet they can high-five with all the fingers aligned. In the same way, amino acids are in the "L" conformation, and by switching two constituents attached to the chirality center, they can be changed into "D". If all your fingers were the same, this would be like moving your thumb to the other side of your hand.
Ibuprofen is sold in a racemic mixture, so the dose has equal parts of its enantiomers. Half of your ibuprofen pill doesn't do anything for you. In fact, it slightly slows the effects of the good half. But it is expensive to isolate the active enantiomer. It's ok, the "lame" enantiomer doesn't hurt you.
Also, someone in my small quant class taught us how to make napalm. My friend says it makes good Molotov cocktails. I'm not going to burn anything. I promise.
This is also interesting. Robert Barron must have been the gadget-guy on the block. Imagine having the only locked house in all of England!
And this is the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Ah!
Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Psalm 98:4
BAILEY!
ReplyDeleteI am just loving this blog so much.
And you.
When you said you learned how to make napalm I first was confused thinking you meant the rapper. But then I realized you meant the stuff they use in bombs. The concept of you dealing with either kind of scares me.