The Chemistry of Caffeine

Introduction

To make caffeine you would need to add carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,and oxygen.

• C+H+N+O

The four compounds added and ballanced make up the scientific formula C8 H10 N4 O2, which is trimethylxanthine.

• C+H+N+O -> C8 H10 N4 O2

That means that you need 8 carbons, 10 hydrogens, 4 nitrogens, and 2 oxygens.

Chemistry's Role

When you consume caffeine, a chemical reaction occurs in your brain. Caffeine uses the same biochemical mechanisms as other stimulants to stimulate the brain function.It causes increased neuronal firing. This affects everyone differently. Some may have reactions that others may not. For example some may have the jitters or insomnia.

Another chemical reaction that happens is considered dependency. Your brain creates dopamine, the good feeling you get, every time you consume it. After a period of time, your body become dependent on the substance and one can experience withdrawal symptoms when not having it.

Background Research

Caffeine is not a man made substance, it is made through plants. But it can be found in many man made products, soda, as well as in natural made, like the beautiful coffee. There are some good things that caffeine does, it gives people energy and it is said that if you were to drink up to one to three cups of caffeine a day, you have a 9% less likely chance to contract diabetes, as found in a Harvard study.

Resources

http://www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/caffeine.html

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/features/article/dalyacolumn2.htm/

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