The Truth About Caffeine
The Caffeine Molecule
The History
Caffeine is a well known molecule that is used everyday. People usually do not think much about caffeine as being anything but an energy boost throughout the day, but in reality it is so much more than that. Caffeine was first discovered by a German Chemist named Ferdinand Runge in 1819. Runge discovered caffeine when he was given a box of Arabian mocha beans by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe wanted information about these beans, and so he asked Runge to study them. And through this study, Runge discovered the first sample of caffeine.
Molecular Structure of Caffeine
Ball and Stick Model of Caffeine
My molecular structure
Colors: Hydrogen: White Carbon: Black Oxygen: Blue Nitrogen: Red
The Facts
Caffeine is a natural molecule found in our world, and it has many different but helpful uses. Caffeine is found in many plants like; coffee beans, cocoa beans, tea, yerba mate, and guarana. What most people don't know about the caffeine in plants, is that it actually acts like a pesticide for the plants and protects them from bugs. Another thing that caffeine is most used for is to act as a human stimulant. In humans, caffeine acts as a stimulant in the central nervous system, heart rate, respiration, and can affect your mood. Caffeine is also known to be America's most popular drug, it is one of the easiest stimulates that you can buy over the counter; usually in the form of coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. Caffeine is believed to work by blocking certain receptors in the brain and other organs, in this it causes a reaction in the cells to release adrenaline. Which then causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to the muscles. Though caffeine can have such an effect on people, it usually passes very quickly through the brain; therefore having no long-lasting harm. But if you abuse caffeine it will slowly give you a tolerance for it, and it will no longer be of any use when you truly need it. Though caffeine is not singled out in the Bible, I believe that I have found two good descriptions of this molecule; Hebrews 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:12. Both of these verses describe the endurance that God can give to finish a task, and in reality, caffeine can give you the energy(or endurance) to carry on and finish your task. And lastly, I chose to research caffeine, because I have always enjoyed a lot of snacks that contain caffeine, and I always go to it for a cure for headaches. So through this project I was able to find some of the leading characteristics as to how caffeine works in everyday life.