Is the removal of stains considered chemistry?
813350
Yes!\n\nMost are removed by dissolving them in the detergent, etc. The detergent is the solvent the stain the solute. \n\nAlthough water is the universal solvent it sometimes needs help. The detergent, in a sense, makes water wetter breaking down its adhesion to each other leaving more water to attach to the dirt. \n\nDry cleaning is not 'dry' it is wet, just not with water. \n\nYou need to use the solvent that will dissolve your stain the best.
102963
A dye can generally be described as a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is usually used as an aqueous solution, and may require a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber. In contrast, a pigment generally has no affinity for the substrate, and is insoluble.\n\nArchaeological evidence shows that, particularly in India and the Middle East, dyeing has been carried out for over 5000 years. The dyes were obtained from either animal, vegetable or mineral origin, with no or very little processing. By far the greatest source of dyes has been from the plant kingdom, notably roots, berries, bark, leaves and wood, but only a few have ever been used on a commercial scale.\n\nThe first man-made organic dye, mauveine, was discovered by William Henry Perkin in 1856. Many thousands of dyes have since been prepared and, because of vastly improved properties imparted upon the dyed materials, quickly replaced the traditional natural dyes. Dyes are now classified according to how they are used in the dyeing process.\n\nAcid dyes are water-soluble anionic dyes that are applied to fibers such as silk, wool, nylon and modified acrylic fibers using neutral to acid dyebaths. Attachment to the fiber is attributed, at least partly, to salt formation between anionic groups in the dyes and cationic groups in the fiber. Acid dyes are not substantive to cellulosic fibers.\n\nBasic dyes are water-soluble cationic dyes that are mainly applied to acrylic fibers, but find some use for wool and silk. Usually acetic acid is added to the dyebath to help the uptake of the dye onto the fiber. Basic dyes are also used in the coloration of paper.\n\nDirect or substantive dyeing is normally carried out in a neutral or slightly alkaline dyebath, at or near boiling point, with the addition of either sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). Direct dyes are used on cotton, paper, leather, wool, silk and nylon. They are also used as pH indicators and as biological stains.\n\nMordant dyes require a mordant, which improves the fastness of the dye against water, light and perspiration. The choice of mordant is very important as different mordants can change the final colour significantly. Most natural dyes are mordant dyes and there is therefore a large literature base describing dyeing techniques. The most important mordant dyes are the synthetic mordant dyes, or chrome dyes, used for wool; these comprise some 30% of dyes used for wool, and are especially useful for black and navy shades. The mordant, potassium dichromate, is applied as an after-treatment.\n\nLook up leuco form in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.Vat dyes are essentially insoluble in water and incapable of dyeing fibres directly. However, reduction in alkaline liquor produces the water soluble alkali metal salt of the dye, which, in this leuco form, has an affinity for the textile fibre. Subsequent oxidation reforms the original insoluble dye.\n\nReactive dyes utilize a chromophore containing a substituent that is capable of directly reacting with the fibre substrate. The covalent bonds that attach reactive dye to natural fibers make it among the most permanent of dyes. "Cold" reactive dyes, such as Procion MX, Cibacron F, and Drimarene K, are very easy to use because the dye can be applied at room temperature. Reactive dye is by far the best choice for dyeing cotton and other cellulose fibers at home or in the art studio.\n\nDisperse dyes were originally developed for the dyeing of cellulose acetate, and are substantially water insoluble. The dyes are finely ground in the presence of a dispersing agent and then sold as a paste, or spray-dried and sold as a powder. They can also be used to dye nylon, triacetate, polyester and acrylic fibres. In some cases, a dyeing temperature of 130 °C is required, and a pressurised dyebath is used. The very fine particle size gives a large surface area that aids dissolution to all
166236
I suspect you used Naphtha, a volatile liquid used for cleaning items and removing oil and grease. This is a relatively safe chemical with the exception of its high volatility and flammability. However, anything is possible and if you have doubt or issues, I suggest you see a medical professional.
94892
actually yes..\nperoxide is an ingredient of whitening kits\nand is commercially used\nbut dnt use high concentrations, it can be damaging otherwise..
200542
There is no active ingredient per se.  The better grades of paint use titanium dioxide to create the whiteness and to assist in covering.
599776
dishwasher powder/liquid and stain removers do too - enzymes helps break down grease and dirt
1009466
Depends on type of treatment and your body chemistry
885253
This stuff sounds nasty.\nDon't piss about, get a professional chemical clean up firm in.\nIt might be a legal requirement to do so under the Health & Safety Act.
869335
Most of the processes are actually physical but still there are some chemical processes; most chemical processes are intermediate reactions to clean up a product or to add some chemical for enhancing specifications.
213053
(m)\n\nBlemish Free is an exciting new product that removes facial and body blemishes safely, effectively and virtually pain free.\n\nFDA approved procedure now available to you in a home treatment kit.\n\nYou can safely remove freckles, age spots, sun damage, moles, warts, skin tags and dark areas on the back of hands.
926706
The chemical is called melanin...
769133
I'm not a bio expert, but as a licensed cosmetologist, I can tell you that dye does affect microscopic characteristics of hair, because the permanent dyes are a mixture of color molecules in an ammonia base, which is mixed with developer, H2O2, or 20 volume hydrogen peroxide, just before application. The H202 lifts the cuticle of the hair, which is the overlapping scales on the outside of the hair shaft, and removes some of the natural pigment (bleaches a bit) from the cortex, and the mixture then deposits the new artificial color molecules into the cortex. The medulla, or innermost layer of the hair, is not usually affected, but in cases of severe chemical damage, it can be. The hair shaft itself sort of resembles a tree under a microscope, the outer layer, the cuticle, resembles "bark" or overlapping scales, the cortex resembles the "pith" of a tree or plant stem, and the medulla is a very thin "core" in the center. You'll see "damage" to the hair shaft of dyed hair, as those cuticle scales have been lifted, and some become missing from the chemical damage.  The difference between dyes, is a permanent color (dye) removes natural color, and re-deposits new color, a semi-permanent color does not mix with H202, and "stains" the outer layers of the hair, and washes off after several shampoos. There can be no temporary lightening of hair with a semi-permanent color, because in order to go to lighter hair, the natural pigments must be removed, and that takes peroxide / ammonia based products. \nI hope someone with more of a chemistry / biology background can fill in the details for you, but I hope I have at least given you an understanding of how hair is changed by dyes.  (similar changes / damage occur with perms and straighteners) Good Luck.
468844
First of all unless you are sure you have the proper equipment I wouldn't mess with phosphoric acid.  The phosphoric acid and the zinc oxide could be enough depending on what type of metal you are trying to clean.  If the metal you are trying to clean has a higher reduction potential than zinc then your good otherwise you will need a catalyst.
570827
It's called a reducing agent.
740416
Your question is incomplete.  What type of stains are you talking about?  Looking at the properties of the stain and you may find the answer you need.
610960
Acetone (found in nail polish remover) dissolves super glue.  I don't know if it has any sort of staining or bleaching effect on cloth though so you should experiment with a shirt you don't care about first.
583627
Your skin, no matter how clean you are, contains oils (hence, fingerprints that you leave) which can stain with the visualizing agent.  Also they contain proteins and even some free amino acids which can also react with certain stains.  \n\nBasically, you contaminate it.