Random Daily Banter

[First Aspect]

Can't help really. I specialised on inorganic and physical chemistry. Dies are squarely in the organic chemistry box.

All I could find is this, which seems like a useful starting point.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/...-stained-and-blistered-and-how-to-find-relief

 

[C R]

Top tip: never open up black walnuts from their outer casing with your fingers without wearing gloves. I did so on Monday, and the immediate staining of the skin is very noticeable and won't wash off: it looks like I've had a 40-a-day habit since forever.

It's interesting, as the flesh in the casing is white, but clearly there's a chemical in there that reacts with human skin to produce the dark yellow/orange staining. Maybe paging @First Aspect for a chemist's hunch, given your input on the green carrot water experiment.

White wine, maybe.

 

[briantrumpet]

White wine, maybe.

I tried drinking a bottle, and it didn't seem to make a difference.

 

[briantrumpet]

Can't help really. I specialised on inorganic and physical chemistry. Dies are squarely in the organic chemistry box.

All I could find is this, which seems like a useful starting point.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/...-stained-and-blistered-and-how-to-find-relief

Thanks FA. Looks like a direct hit - very interesting... am going to go down that rabbit hole.

 

[briantrumpet]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglone

Juglone, also called 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione (IUPAC) is a phenolic organic compound with the molecular formula C10H6O3. In the food industry, juglone is also known as C.I. Natural Brown 7 and C.I. 75500. It is insoluble in benzene but soluble in dioxane, from which it crystallizes as yellow needles. It is an isomer of lawsone, which is the active dye compound in the henna leaf.

Juglone occurs naturally in the leaves, roots, husks, fruit (the epicarp), and bark of plants in the Juglandaceae family, particularly the black walnut (Juglans nigra), and is toxic or growth-stunting to many types of plants.[1] It is sometimes used as an herbicide, as a dye for cloth and inks, and as a coloring agent for foods and cosmetics.

 

[First Aspect]

Still not quite clear why it's optical properties change only upon release into the environment, or contact with the skin. Perhaps it oxidizes from whatever is in the walnut?

I also would guess that the frostbite effect you see in photos is independent of the skin irritation.

Phenolic compounds are what we call "aromatic". Meaning they have a nasty structure within them analogous to benzene, toluene and related carcinogens. I guess that the first ones that were characterized were also smelly.

It is not the case that all compounds with aromatic rings are carcinogenic, however I could see that the chemistry that makes some of them carcinogenic might also correlate to skin irritation. They stick to particular parts of other molecules or dissolve them, basically.

 

[briantrumpet]

Still not quite clear why it's optical properties change only upon release into the environment, or contact with the skin. Perhaps it oxidizes from whatever is in the walnut?

I also would guess that the frostbite effect you see in photos is independent of the skin irritation.

Phenolic compounds are what we call "aromatic". Meaning they have a nasty structure within them analogous to benzene, toluene and related carcinogens. I guess that the first ones that were characterized were also smelly.

It is not the case that all compounds with aromatic rings are carcinogenic, however I could see that the chemistry that makes some of them carcinogenic might also correlate to skin irritation. They stick to particular parts of other molecules or dissolve them, basically.

I suspect the juglone is in the green skin rather than the white flesh inside that surrounds the nut - the description of juglone says it's a yellow-green compound.

 

[briantrumpet]

FWIW, for me there was no skin irritation (maybe as I wiped it off with wet grass promptly to try to get rid of the colour).

 

[First Aspect]

I suspect the juglone is in the green skin rather than the white flesh inside that surrounds the nut - the description of juglone says it's a yellow-green compound.

Sure, but why does it become black on the skin. Could be pretty complicated, and not necessarily a result of a chemical change in that compound itself.

Is "chemistry banter" an oxymoron, I wonder....

 

[briantrumpet]

Sure, but why does it become black on the skin. Could be pretty complicated, and not necessarily a result of a chemical change in that compound itself.

Is "chemistry banter" an oxymoron, I wonder....

Ah, yes. The speed of the skin stain did make me wonder if it was a reaction with the skin in some way, and the fact that it wouldn't just wash off, even though done within seconds.

 

[briantrumpet]

You're more likely to understand the long words in this:

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/11/5/163

Despite the extensive research about numerous systemic effects of the Juglans regia L. (J. regia), to our knowledge, there are no comprehensive reviews about the dermatological effects and mechanisms of action of the J. regia on healthy and diseased skin [4]. Therefore, the aim of this review is to present the existing data about the dermatological effects of the J. regia and its use in cosmetic products on healthy skin, as well as its use in various formulations for different skin conditions (Figure 1).

EDIT - darn it, it's looking for its uses in improving skin conditions, rather than how the staining occurs.

 

[icowden]

Quick change of topic as I couldn't see a better place to post it:

https://substack.com/home/post/p-176814716

Broadcaster Hacked by Person with Identical Views
The tech-whizz, who likes statues of Churchill but not tube carriages containing non-white people, seized control of Mike Graham’s Facebook account for around thirty seconds on Sunday evening, before posting exactly the sort of thing Mike would say.

“On Sunday night my Facebook was accessed and a vile message was posted on my page without my knowledge. It contained words that I would never write and an opinion I don’t share” wrote the prominent critic of multiculturalism, immigration and nuanced thought.

While questions such as ‘how the hacker managed to imitate Mike’s style so effectively nobody noticed he’d been hacked?’ and ‘why they promptly relinquished control of his account?’ remain, cybersecurity expert and nascent divorcee

Christian Calgie offered a more mundane explanation:
“He’s not the first person to get hacked after three bottles of wine and he won’t be the last.”

TalkTV have confirmed that Graham has been placed on concrete gardening leave.
“I’m not just another repellent broadcaster whose jumped the gun on open racism becoming publicly acceptable” said the repellent broadcaster.

Investigations continue.

 

[Pblakeney]

Christian Calgie offered a more mundane explanation:
“He’s not the first person to get hacked after three bottles of wine and he won’t be the last.”

😂😆😂🤪

 

[briantrumpet]

 

[BoldonLad]

Top tip: never open up black walnuts from their outer casing with your fingers without wearing gloves. I did so on Monday, and the immediate staining of the skin is very noticeable and won't wash off: it looks like I've had a 40-a-day habit since forever.

It's interesting, as the flesh in the casing is white, but clearly there's a chemical in there that reacts with human skin to produce the dark yellow/orange staining. Maybe paging @First Aspect for a chemist's hunch, given your input on the green carrot water experiment.

Does it turn you into a Trump supporter too? 😂