Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
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What is Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane?
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, better known as DDT, is a chemical used in pesticides. Pesticides containing DDT have been banned in Canada due to its harmful effects. However, many people aren’t aware of what DDT is, nor are they aware of its effects. This website is structured to educate people on the truths of DDT.
What are the properties of DDT?
DDT is a compound made up of Hydrogen, Carbon, and Chlorine. Its chemical formula is C14H9Cl5. What this means is that per every DDT molecule, there are 14 Carbon atoms, 8 Hydrogen atoms, and 5 Chlorine atoms.
DDT is a colourless crystalline with a slight aromatic odour. It has a density of 1.016kg/L and its boiling point is 185oC. However, its most important property is that it is insoluble in water but soluble in fats
How Does DDT Work?
DDT is insoluble in water, but soluble in fats. Therefore, it doesn’t dissolve when farmers water their plants, or when it rains; it dissolves when it contacts the fats of creatures.
DDT can get to the fat of creatures when the pests consume the chemical. Once the pest consumes DDT, DDT will contact the nerve cell’s plasma membrane (the outer part). Since the membrane is made up mostly of fats, DDT will dissolve. As it enters the cell, it creates a large opening, from which potassium ions and sodium ions, two essential substances in order for a nerve cell to operate properly, leak out. Since these essentials leak out, the nerve cells will no longer function properly. If nerve cells don’t work, creatures (such as pests) will suffer either convulsion or paralysis and they will die.
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, better known as DDT, is a chemical used in pesticides. Pesticides containing DDT have been banned in Canada due to its harmful effects. However, many people aren’t aware of what DDT is, nor are they aware of its effects. This website is structured to educate people on the truths of DDT.
What are the properties of DDT?
DDT is a compound made up of Hydrogen, Carbon, and Chlorine. Its chemical formula is C14H9Cl5. What this means is that per every DDT molecule, there are 14 Carbon atoms, 8 Hydrogen atoms, and 5 Chlorine atoms.
DDT is a colourless crystalline with a slight aromatic odour. It has a density of 1.016kg/L and its boiling point is 185oC. However, its most important property is that it is insoluble in water but soluble in fats
How Does DDT Work?
DDT is insoluble in water, but soluble in fats. Therefore, it doesn’t dissolve when farmers water their plants, or when it rains; it dissolves when it contacts the fats of creatures.
DDT can get to the fat of creatures when the pests consume the chemical. Once the pest consumes DDT, DDT will contact the nerve cell’s plasma membrane (the outer part). Since the membrane is made up mostly of fats, DDT will dissolve. As it enters the cell, it creates a large opening, from which potassium ions and sodium ions, two essential substances in order for a nerve cell to operate properly, leak out. Since these essentials leak out, the nerve cells will no longer function properly. If nerve cells don’t work, creatures (such as pests) will suffer either convulsion or paralysis and they will die.
This is a model of a DDT molecule. The green spheres represent Chlorine atoms, the black spheres represent Carbon atoms, and the Grey spheres represent Hydrogen atoms.
