[somethingqwurkee]

I don't understand my homework assignment

Number one:
Within the ingredients section of common household products, I need to find the names of organic compounds for which I can determine the functional group by name. Then, I need to name the household product/brand name, the chemical name and the organic functional group. An example I did would be: Lubriderm lotion (brand name), butylene glycol (chemical name), alcohol (functional group). I need more examples of these because I am stuck. As many examples as you can give would be SO helpful!

Number two:
I need to look at plastic containers from consumer products. I must identify the recycling code and polymer name. You can use only one drinking container that is a bottle of water (which I already found). Here is an example that I figured out: Calistoga water (brand name), 1 PETE (recycling code) and polyethylene terphthalate (polymer name).

Number three:
I need to look at ingredient labels of things in my home.  Do not use the nutritional labels on foods packages but use the ingredients label!  Examples... toothpaste, personal hygiene products, cosmetics.  In the ingredients part of the label, find the names of INORGANIC chemical compounds for which you can write the correct formulas.  If you do not know the formula, then find another compound!  Then complete the table with 5 such compounds giving the name of the product including brand name, the chemical name and the chemical formula.  No duplicate compounds.
Example I did: calistoga water (brand name), chemical name is water, chemical formula is h2o.

Thank you so much for any help you can give!

[macman104]

Number 1:  Just look through the medicine cabinet, the cleaners, etc.  There will be many examples of organic compounds in those items.
Number 2:  Open up the fridge.  Or go to the grocery store.  Plastic containers can be things like yogurt containers, cream cheese, milk, sauces
Number 3:  Look at suntan lotion also.  Have you looked at the toothpaste, hygiene products, etc?  For this one, it will be difficult unless you can recognize the inorganics.  You may just want to take some ingredient lists and put the different compounds into google.

[somethingqwurkee]

I understand where to find the ingredients, I just don't understand the rest.

[macman104]

"The Rest", can you be more descriptive?  To me it seems pretty straightforward, so you need to tell us what you don't understand about "the rest" of the assignment.

[somethingqwurkee]

Well, for number one... I need to name the household product/brand name, the chemical name and the organic functional group. I know where to find the first part, I just don't know how to identify the organic functional group. So I can find a household product, I just don't know how to find a chemical that I can ALSO name the organic functional group.

Two... I need help finding the recycling code and polymer name. I know that I can look at water bottles and stuff, I just don't know how to find the code/polymer name.

Three... In the ingredients part of the label, find the names of INORGANIC chemical compounds for which you can write the correct formulas. I don't know how to do that. I also need to find the chemical formula, and I don't know how.

Thank you

[macman104]

Well, for number one... I need to name the household product/brand name, the chemical name and the organic functional group. I know where to find the first part, I just don't know how to identify the organic functional group. So I can find a household product, I just don't know how to find a chemical that I can ALSO name the organic functional group.

You should have discussed in your class how various functional groups have special naming at the ends.  Just like in the example, the glycol signified an alcohol.  You may have to use a search engine and do some work like that too.

Two... I need help finding the recycling code and polymer name. I know that I can look at water bottles and stuff, I just don't know how to find the code/polymer name.

I took 2 seconds and googled "recycling code and polymers", and got hits that give you exact information about the different codes.

Three... In the ingredients part of the label, find the names of INORGANIC chemical compounds for which you can write the correct formulas. I don't know how to do that. I also need to find the chemical formula, and I don't know how.

This is again going to be partially just recognizing inorganics, but also a little bit of googling.  Most ionic compounds have an "-ide" ending, like zinc bromide, so look for those. 

Sorry, I wish I had a better solution for you, for parts 1 and 3, but there is no exact rule for quickly identifying the inorganics (nor really the organics).