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| This photo is a lineup of Cascade products which include all of the following ingredients. |
Cascade, a seemingly harmless dish detergent, can actually kill and destroy the lives of fish as well as irritate our lungs, eyes, and skin. This killer detergent is supposed to be utilized in the comfort of our own homes yet how can we use a product that contains such harmful ingredients? Stemming from elements all over the Periodic Table, Cascade is a heterogeneous mixture of chemicals and ingredients that not only clear our red sauce and leftover-ridden dishes, but also is detrimental to our health and messes with the levels of phosphate in our bodies. Oh, and how can we forget, CASCADE KILLS FISH!
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
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| This photo is an example of the packaging of the initial Sodium Tripolyphosphate when Cascade is preparing to mix it with the other ingredients. |
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| Here is a visual of the Lewis structure for Sodium Tripolyphosphate. |
Health effects of this ingredient can lead to irritation the lungs, eyes, and skin if it is directly applied. Also, Sodium Tripolyphosphate disturbs the balance of phosphates in the body. Phosphates, an essential part of our bodies, help repair and build bones, contract our muscles, as well as aid nerve functions.
Lastly, Sodium Tripolyphosphate kills fish when integrated into water systems as in streams, lakes, oceans, etc. The scenario may seem unlikely, but imagine what happens when we wash cascade down the drain and it is taken into water systems. The interaction of fish as an entire species leads to death in most cases.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate is a white powder resembling that of powdered sugar. The ingredient melts at 620 degrees Celsius and boils at 1100 degrees Celsius.
Chemical properties include a pH equivalent to 9.7-9.8. Alongside a basic pH, the molecular weight is approximately 367.86 g/Mol. Lastly, the hydrogen bond acceptor count is 10 and the donor is 0.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate attains a strong chelation for heavy metal ions; therefore, it has the ability to grab chemicals off dishes and remove them quickly and efficiently. Also it aids in protecting the hardware and dishes while they are in contact with a large volume of strong chemicals. The ingredient also removes toxins from metal on dishes making it an essential aspect of the detergent and the helping the detergent perform as it is advertised.
Sodium Sulfate
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| This photo depicts the texture and appearance of Sodium Sulfate. |
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| This photo demonstrates the Lewis Dot Diagram of Sodium Sulfate. |
Na2SO4 , Sodium Sulfate, is derived from Sulfuric Acid. The ingredient is also attached to a positive Na ion.
Ingesting Sodium Sulfate will surely make you feel a bit under the weather. This ingredient leads to not only vomiting, but diarrhea and abdominal pains (all the fun stuff). Along with the effects Sodium Sulfate has on us, it is also highly flammable and does not react well with fire. In the case of a dish detergent, there is always the possibility of kitchen fires. If a fire were to come in contact with Cascade, the Sodium Sulfate will cause the fire to erupt quickly and possibly lead to damage.
Sodium sulfate is an odorless white powder with a melting point of 880 degrees Celsius. The fine powder is also soluble although it is dependent on the temperature. This ingredient has a neutral pH of 7. The neutral ingredient typically is electrostatic ally bonded with ionic sulfate.
Sodium Sulfate aids in filtering the detergent along with helping speed up the drying process. In the mixture of ingredients, Sodium Sulfate absorbs liquid which allows the dishes to be dry sooner.
Sodium Silicate
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| This is the chemical structure of Sodium Silicate. |
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Here is the Lewis Dot Diagram of Sodium Silicate. |
The chemical formula of Sodium Silicate, Na2O3Si, was discovered in 1818 when silic acid was mixed with an Alkali metal. Thus, Sodium Silicate is highly soluble.
It is highly suggested not to inhale Sodium Silicate because of the permanent repercussions. Inhalation leads to irreversible lung damage and difficulty breathing, which can ultimately mean death in some cases. Another harmful aspect of the ingredient is the burning of the entire digestive system. Not only is the burning excruciatingly painful, but makes eating different for the rest of someones life.
Similar to Sodium Tripolyphosphate and Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Silicate a white powder. The ingredient has a high melting point of 1,190 degrees Celsius and is soluble in water.
Sodium Silicate has a neutral pH and is found in many Alkaline Solutions. In acids, it will react to form Hydrogen ions from Silic Acid.
The purpose of using Sodium Silicate in Cascade is to provide a rugged coating over powders. The ingredient is commonly found in fertilizers. The synonymous use of Sodium Silicate is to allow the granules to appear larger in size as well as having a higher durability.
In conclusion, the mixture of ingredients in Cascade create a wildly popular and effective dish detergent, the individual parts lead to physical complications along with environmental problems. After considering the damages that these ingredient can cause, looking into alternative detergents would be a smart decision for any consumer. Although many students are not inclined to worry about the harmfulness of detergents for dishes, the bigger picture is clear- Cascade ultimately kills fish and leads to many uncomfortable actions performed by the body. The immense need for other detergents is an urgent matter!
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