Investigating the Stability of Benzoyl Peroxide in Over-the-Counter Acne Medications

Autor/inn/en	Kittredge, Marina Canepa; Kittredge, Kevin W.; Sokol, Melissa S.; Sarquis, Arlyne M.; Sennet, Laura M.
Titel	Investigating the Stability of Benzoyl Peroxide in Over-the-Counter Acne Medications
Quelle	In: Journal of Chemical Education, 85 (2008) 12, S.1655-1657 (3 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9584
Schlagwörter	Drug Therapy; Science Experiments; College Science; Chemistry; Molecular Structure; Water; Pharmacology; Pharmacy; Science Instruction + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Chemie; Wasser; Arzneikunde; Apotheke; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht
Abstract	One of the most commonly used ingredients in over-the-counter acne treatments in cream, gel, and wash form is benzoyl peroxide. It is an anti-bacterial agent that kills the bacterium ("Propionibacterium acne") involved in the formation of acne. The formulation of these products is extremely difficult owing to the instability of benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is soluble in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and isopropyl myristate, but it is not stable in these solvents. Also, it is practically insoluble in water and only slightly soluble in ethanol but is very stable in the presence of these solvents. The stability of benzoyl peroxide in PEG or isopropyl myristate is increased upon addition of water or ethanol. Students take on the role of the process chemist and use peroxide strips to investigate the stability of benzoyl peroxide in an over-the-counter acne medication in solutions of water, ethanol, PEG, 50:50 ethanol:PEG, 50:50 water:PEG, isopropyl myristate, and 50:50 ethanol:isopropyl myristate. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10