What makes a molecule carcinogenic?

A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes.

Are epoxides bad?

In fact, epoxides have been identified for many years as biologically hazardous compounds and there are several reports about their toxicity and carcinogenicity due to their ability to covalently bind to nucleophilic centers on proteins and nucleic acids [[3], [4], [5]].

What is carcinogenic material?

You’ve probably heard the word “carcinogen” pop up in news stories and wondered what that means for your everyday life. A carcinogen is something that can cause you to have cancer. It may be a substance in the air, a product you use, or a chemical in foods and drinks.

How many known carcinogens are there?

Since 1971, the agency has evaluated more than 1,000 agents, including chemicals, complex mixtures, occupational exposures, physical agents, biological agents, and lifestyle factors. Of these, more than 500 have been identified as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, or possibly carcinogenic to humans.

What vegetables are carcinogenic?

Broccoli, apples, onions, oranges, strawberries, lemons and mushrooms all contain acetaldehyde, a natural by-product of oxidation and a known human carcinogen. If you close your eyes you can practically taste it.

How will you prepare epoxide from ethylene?

The most important and simplest epoxide is ethylene oxide which is prepared on an industrial scale by catalytic oxidation of ethylene by air. Ethylene oxide is used as an important chemical feedstock in the manufacturing of ethylene glycol, which is used as antifreeze, liquid coolant and solvent.

How is epoxide formed?

Treating an alkene with a “peroxyacid” (that’s a carboxylic acid containing an extra oxygen) leads to direct formation of an epoxide. A popular peroxyacid for this purpose is m-CPBA [m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid], although other peroxyacids of the general form RCO3H also find use.