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    Question ID:   17664         Current Version: 1
Question: What are the chemical properties of hair?
Category: Science > Chemistry
Keywords: chemical properties, hair
Type: what
Rating:(0 ratings)    Views: 107    Discussions: 0   In Watch Lists: 1  

 
    Answer:

Hair is made mostly of keratin, a protein. Proteins are composed of amino acids. Hair has an unusually high content of a particular amino acid called cystine. Cycstine forms very strong bonds within each protein strand. What's more, if the pH is low (below 4), cystine on one keratin strand bonds strongly to keratin strands nearby. When hair is wet, it can be stretched to 1 1/2 times its dry length because water (ph=7) weakens the strand-strand bonds and causes the strands to swell as well. This is key; it makes it so that hair can be rolled and then set with chemicals.

The chemistry of hair is very interesting and very complex. You can learn more in the book, "Chemistry, Man and Society" which has lots of information about this sort of thing.

Source: Argonne National Laboratory

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