How does sunblock work?

Answer 1

The principal ingredients in sunscreens are usually aromatic molecules conjugated with carbonyl groups. This general structure allows the molecule to absorb high-energy ultraviolet rays and release the energy as lower-energy rays, thereby preventing the skin-damaging ultraviolet rays from reaching the skin. So, upon exposure to UV light, most of the ingredients (with the notable exception of avobenzone) do not undergo significant chemical change, allowing these ingredients to retain the UV-absorbing potency without significant photo-degradation. Further details regarding the mechanism of action of sunscreen products can be found here.

Answer 2

Yeah! Sunblock does work. The reason is that sunblock is Solar Protection Formula 30 or SPF 30 for short. Sunblock does blanket your skin like , you know, a blanket!!

Answer 3

A sunblock physically blocks the sun's UV radiation of the skin, both UVA and UVB. Examples of sunblocks are clothing, umbrellas, and trees. Chemical sunblocks scatter, reflect, and physically block UV radiation. The most well-known chemical sunblock is zinc oxide. Other commonly used sunblocks are talc, titanium dioxide, and red vetenary petrolatum.

Answer 4

Sunblock works in a variety of ways.

It blocks the sun by scattering rays. The chemicals in the sunscreen also absorb some of the radiation produced by UV rays. Good question!

Answer 5

Colloidal zinc oxide scatters light.

UV-light comes in, gets scattered in all directions when it hits the zinc particles, and thus less hits your skin. I don't know what the other ingredients do.

Higher energy radiation (shorter wavelength) is more susceptible to light scattering than lower energy radiation (longer wavelength). This is also why the sky is blue! (Blue light, as light with the shortest wavelength, is scattered more than the rest of light when it passes through the upper atmosphere. At sunset, the sunlight must pass through a thicker layer of atmosphere to get to you so the blue light doesn't even make it to the ground and the other colors of light are appreciably scattered.)

Light scattering is also responsible for the polarization of sunlight.

Answer 6

It forms a reflective/absorbant sheet over your skin. And as you probably guessed from that is that the sun is reflected/absorbed by the sunblock!

Answer 7

Most sunscreens work by containing either an organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light (such as oxybenzone) or an opaque material that reflects light (such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide), or a combination of both. Typically, absorptive materials are referred to as chemical blocks, whereas opaque materials are mineral or physical blocks.

Answer 8

It's formulated to protect UV Rays from harming the skin so you won't get a tan but at least you won't get burned.

Answer 9

it pervents sunny rays of terror and dosent fry your brains but it could make you a red neack!eh @

Answer 10

it stops the penetration of rays of diff frequencies which cause damage