I got really curious about how, on a scientific level, baking soda actually cleans things. So, I started digging around, and here’s what I discovered:
Baking soda, a mild abrasive, gently wears away stains. And, at a mere 65 microns (0.0026 inches, or 0.0065 centimeters) in diameter, its granules aren't abrasive enough to hurt hard surfaces, making it a safer scrubbing agent.
Baking soda reacts with grease to form glycerol, which is a common cleansing ingredient in soaps. So, baking soda also cleans by turning grease and oil into soap! (How cool is that?!)
Mixing baking soda with vinegar (carefully!) creates carbonic acid, a weak corrosive that boosts the grime-cutting action of vinegar. This mixture also releases carbon dioxide, the gas that makes soft drinks bubbly, and that fizzing and foaming action may enhance the “scrubbing” effect.
Wow, who knew?!
Now, why in the world am I sharing middle-school chemistry facts on a quit-smoking blog? Because I want all the newbies here to see that there are so many interesting questions out there, and especially within our “field of study“. The answers are just waiting for you to uncover them, and to explore!
What is nicotine?
What exactly do nicotine molecules do inside the brain?
What the heck is acetylcholine? Or dopamine?
How is it that using nicotine creates a persistent addiction?
What happens inside the brain when we stop using nicotine?
How long does nicotine stay in the bloodstream? The brain?
When will nicotine traces not show up in blood tests? Urine tests? Hair analysis tests?
What is The Grieving Process? And why should quitters know about it?
Whoa…see what I mean? Your recovery asks A LOT of questions, and the answers to the ones above are just a surface-scratching sample of what you should know! So, I’ll just be blunt with you: Have you studied any of your homework? Do you really know what’s going on inside your body every time you puff (for those who haven’t quit yet)? Do you really know, on a physiological and anatomical and psychological level, what’s happening in your brain and mind since you quit? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, or if you cannot answer any of the sample questions above, then I urge you to sit down and hunt for the education you’re gonna need to smartly tackle this addiction.
Will power? Not quite. Knowledge is power around here, my friends! Go get you some!
(Need help? Ask! Find interesting answers? Share!)
STORM: 895
