The Chemistry of Hockey

Introduction

Hockey has many components that make it the intense, physical,and amazing game that we love. In these components chemistry is a great deal apart of it. I will only show the chemistry of two things in hockey on this website. Adrenaline and the ice are the components i’m doing.Composition of ...The ice is simple. Its H2O that goes through the physical change that makes it a solid. The thing some people don’t know is that nitrogen is used to help it stay cold. Also, the ice is severally affected by its surroundings. If there is a lot of dust in the air it makes the ice dirty. This creates a bad playing surface. The body heat people put off can make the ice warm or “bad” ice. This makes it uneven. Passes and puck handling became more difficult.

Another component is adrenaline. Adrenaline is made naturally and in a lab. You make it naturally when you are in a dramatic situation but it is also made in a lab for cardiac arrest. During a hockey game your adrenaline starts because everything is so fast and because of this your body temp increases. One reason why after a hockey game players like cold showers or baths.

Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components

The main chemicals of the ice is H2O and Nitrogen. H2O is the main ingredient and nitrogen keeps it cold. Adrenaline is composed of sodium chloride,sodium metabisulfite, and hydrochloric acid.

Chemistry's Role

The chemicals roles have basically been said in the information above. Nitrogen is used to keep the H2O in its solid state. Adrenaline is used to keep your mind focused and it helps so you don’t feel the pain. Pain of a hard hit or the pain of your muscles.

Background Research

Hockey has been around since the mid 1800’s. Back in those days it was much more brutal. There were basically no rules and it was intense. As hockey “grew up” it became more a contest then a war. Rules were in place and it became more structured. Later came the game we know and love today.

Resources

http://www.udel.edu/chem/C465/senior/fall00/Performance1/epinephrine.htm.html

Heart rate increases so you use more energy and create more body heat

one of the reasons it is so hot during a hockey game

also your adrenaline pumps which also heats you up

http://www.exploratorium.edu/hockey/ice1.html

ice gets too cold it gets chippy

when someone tries to stop chunks come out

ice is suppose to spray

also it is faster ice when really cold

warm ice just isn’t good

it is very hard to get plays going because the puck moves so slow

it can make it an uneven playing surface

towards the end of a period the ice gets bad or slow

slow ice is warm soft ice

fast ice is cold(not too cold) and smooth

ice gets bad because of the friction and body heat that warm it up

freezing and refreezing of ice makes it bad

16 degrees is one of the best temps

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/epinephrine#section=Pharmacology-and-Biochemistry

helps with hyper sensitivity

most prominent on beta receptors on the heart

epinephrine is the scientific name for adrenaline

in solid form it can be toxic

http://www.chemteam.info/Matter/PhysicalChemChanges.html

ice is a physical change

it is still h2o just a solid not a liquid

the temperature the water is makes the decision on whether it’s frozen or not

http://www.skylandsiceworldnj.com/page/show/326128-rink-info-and-facts

it is four layers to make the inch of ice you play on

it takes 15 to 20 hours to do the final sheet

early ice resurfacing machines cost close to 5 grand

http://www.rxlist.com/adrenalin-drug.htm

http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/

first pucks were round pieces of wood

February 27 was the day they established only seven rules

About the Author

Chris has played hockey for 12 years. He started when he was five and has loved the game ever since. His teams have won two state championships in this time. He also enjoys playing baseball and football. Some of his hobbies are hanging with friends and playing video games. He is a student at Senior High and is a junior.