Why do sweaty humans smell like onions and cumin? Explore antiperspirant and deodorant chemistry with a fact-filled video from the American Chemical Society's Reactions playlist. Topics include odor-causing agents, components of underarm deodorants and antiperspirants, and the link between these products and other health problems.

Concepts

bacteria, glands, water, salt, alcohols

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Include the resource in an endocrine system unit
• Divide the class into "Team Deodorant" and "Team Antiperspirant" based on what students personally use, then have each group create an argument for their products based on the science behind them
  

Classroom Considerations

• The video requires a little prior knowledge of glands and secretions

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• The content is very relatable and conveyed in student-friendly terms
• Provides plenty of chemical and biological background knowledge to boost your class' understanding
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2