We are talking about the product from the reaction of glucose with ammonia (NH3). Glucose is a sugar molecule with the formula C6H12O6. It is comprised of five different hydroxyl groups (OH) which have slightly acidic protons. Ammonia is a mild organic base that can react with the glucose molecule by deprotonating the hydroxyl groups. So the main reaction between the two will be the ammonia molecules removing the protons from the hydroxyl groups to form the ammonium salts (NH4+). Another possible reaction is the cyclizing of the glucose molecule. Glucose can exist in a linear form with an aldehyde at one end and a hydroxyl group on the other end. Ammonia could catalyze the condensing of these groups to allow the glucose molecule to exist in cyclic form with a hemi-acetal group instead.
Does anybody know the etymology of the phrase "sweet dreams"? I tried googling but did not find anything satisfying. Is this a relatively new phrase of the modern world or has this been in use for some time? I think it's the latter one. Answer The OED has the interjection as "a farewell to someone going to bed" from the 20th century: 1908 Sears Roebuck Catal. 198/1 Tenor Solos..Good Bye, Sweet Dreams, Good Bye. But it goes back until at least the 19th and possibly 18th centuries. John Wolcot, writing under the pseudonym of Peter Pindar, used it in his poem "Orson and Ellen; A Legendary Tale" published in 1801: Also from 1801 in The infernal Quixote (Page 287) by Charles Lucas: In the March 1776 of The Universal Magazine was published "The Serenade. A Pastoral Tale. From the German of Gesner" , where the shepherd Daphnis watches over his beloved as she sleeps and sings: The same tale appears in 1776's as Idyl XI, " Daphnis ...
Comments
Post a Comment