Inorganic Chemistry – Alkali, Alkaline-Earth, Coinage & Selected Main-Group/Transition Elements

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key elements, compounds, processes, pharmacologic actions and toxicology points from the inorganic-chemistry lecture notes, covering Group IA to Group VIIIB and selected industrial processes.

Group IA (Alkali Metals)

Elements with one valence electron (H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr); very reactive and form +1 cations.

Hydrogen (H)

Lightest, most abundant element; burns in O2 to form water; isotopes: protium, deuterium (D₂O), tritium.

Lane/Messerschmidt Process

Industrial methods for producing 99 % pure hydrogen gas.

Natural (Mineral) Water

Water containing dissolved minerals, suspended matter, gases; not fit for drinking.

Potable Water (USP)

Water suitable for drinking, obtained by distillation, ion-exchange, or reverse osmosis; free of coliforms.

Temporary Hard Water

Water with Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ bicarbonates removable by boiling or lime addition.

Permanent Hard Water

Water containing Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ sulfates or chlorides; softened by ion-exchange resins.

Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)

3 % topical antiseptic (10-vol); 6 % bleaching (20-vol); stabilized with 0.03 % acetanilide.

Pharmaceutically Important Acids

H₃BO₃, HCl, HNO₃, H₃PO₄, H₂SO₄ – used as buffers, reagents, etchants, drying or oxidizing agents.

Lithium Carbonate (Li₂CO₃)

Drug of choice for bipolar disorder; mood stabilizer sold as Eskalith, Lithase, Quilonium-R.

Sodium Acetate

Systemic/urinary alkalizer, diuretic; component of Benedict’s qualitative reagent.

Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)

Baking soda; antacid, systemic alkalizer; antidote for salicylate or zinc ingestion.

Milk-Alkali Syndrome

Hypercalcemia and renal failure caused by excess calcium carbonate antacid use.

Sodium Phosphates (mono/di/tribasic)

Source of phosphate in TPN; saline cathartics; used to clean glassware.

Rochelle Salt

Sodium potassium tartrate; saline laxative and sequestrant in Fehling’s solution.

Borax (Sodium Borate)

Alkalinizing agent, buffer in eyewash; component of Dobell’s solution.

Soda Lime

Mixture of Ca(OH)₂ + NaOH/KOH; absorbs CO₂ in anesthesia circuits.

Sodium Hypochlorite 4–6 %

Household bleach; disinfectant; 0.5 % buffered Dakin’s solution for wounds.

Sodium Iodide (NaI)

Source of iodide for thyroid hormones; expectorant; solubilizer of iodine.

Sodium Thiosulfate

Antidote for cyanide (with NaNO₂); photographic fixer; volumetric titrant.

Sodium Nitroprusside

Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO]; intravenous vasodilator for hypertensive emergencies.

Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate

Cation-exchange resin (Kayexalate) used to treat hyperkalemia.

True Antioxidant

Compound that reacts with free radicals (e.g., propyl gallate, vitamin E, BHA, BHT).

Potassium Chloride (KCl)

Salt of choice for potassium replacement; component of Ringer’s and ORS; give IV by drip only.

Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)

Caustic potash; strong base for soap making; causes liquefaction necrosis of tissues.

Iodism

Adverse condition from excess iodide: lacrimation, salivation, rhinitis, skin eruption.

Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄)

Strong oxidizing antiseptic; volumetric reagent; stains removable with oxalic acid.

Cream of Tartar

Potassium bitartrate; saline laxative; acid component of baking powder.

Sulfurated Potash

K₂Sₓ·K₂S₂O₃ (liver of sulfur); source of sulfide in White Lotion; dermatologic a/f agent.

Ammonia Water (NH₄OH ~10 %)

Dilute ammonia solution; reflex respiratory stimulant; neutralizes insect stings.

Aromatic Ammonia Spirit

NH₃ + ammonium carbonate + aromatics; inhalant for fainting.

Ammonium Chloride

Sal ammoniac; expectorant, diuretic, systemic acidifier.

Coinage Metals

Group IB elements Cu, Ag, Au – form +1 ions, high conductivity, malleable.

Cupric Sulfate (CuSO₄·5H₂O)

Blue vitriol; reagent in Benedict/Fehling; emetic for phosphorus poisoning.

Bordeaux Mixture

CuSO₄ + CaO; algaecide and fungicide for pools and plants.

Argyria

Permanent gray-black skin discoloration from chronic silver accumulation; treat with NaCl lavage.

Silver Nitrate

Lunar caustic; topical cautery; 1 % ophthalmic prophylaxis vs. gonorrheal conjunctivitis.

Aurothioglucose / Gold Sodium Thiomalate

Injectable gold drugs for rheumatoid arthritis (DMARDs).

Group IIA (Alkaline Earths)

Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra; form +2 ions; moderately reactive.

Grignard Reagent (RMgX)

Organomagnesium compound used to synthesize alcohols.

Milk of Magnesia

Magnesium hydroxide suspension; antacid and laxative; may cause diarrhea.

Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)

Oral cathartic; IM anticonvulsant in eclampsia.

Talc

Hydrated magnesium silicate; softest mineral; dusting, filtering, adsorbent.

Calcium Carbonate

Precipitated or prepared; antacid; optical grade calcite (Iceland spar) used in polarimeters.

Calcium Gluconate

IV antidote for HF burns and hypocalcemia.

Plaster of Paris

CaSO₄·½H₂O; hardens with water; surgical casts.

Flame Test – Lithium

Carmine red coloration in non-luminous flame.

Strontium Chloride

Crimson-red flame; tooth desensitizing agent in Sensodyne.

Barium Sulfate

Radiopaque GI contrast medium; insoluble; may cause constipation.

Radium (Ra)

Radioactive alkaline-earth element discovered by Marie Curie; activity unit curie (Ci).

Zinc Oxide

Zinc white; mild antiseptic and protectant; component of Lassar’s paste.

White Lotion

ZnS precipitated in situ from sulfurated potash + ZnSO₄; topical anti-infective.

Itai-Itai Disease

Bone and kidney damage from cadmium exposure (Japan); antidote BAL.

Cadmium Sulfide

Yellow sulfide; antiseborrheic in dandruff preparations (Capsebon).

Mercury (Hg)

Heavy metal existing as elemental, mercurous (+1), mercuric (+2); cumulative poison targeting CNS and kidneys.

Calomel

Mercurous chloride (Hg₂Cl₂); mild cathartic historically.

Corrosive Sublimate

Mercuric chloride (HgCl₂); disinfectant but highly toxic.

Purple of Cassius

Colloidal gold + stannic hydroxide; porcelain stain indicator of tin.

Boric Acid

H₃BO₃; weak antiseptic, buffer, eyewash (2 %); tonicity adjuster.

Atkins & Pantin Buffer

Isotonic ophthalmic buffer: NaHCO₃, NaCl, boric acid (pH 7.6–11).

Aluminum Hydroxide Gel

Amphojel; non-systemic antacid; may cause constipation and phosphate depletion.

Bentonite

Colloidal hydrated aluminum silicate; suspending agent (5 % magma).

Pumice

Volcanic porous glassy rock; dental abrasive; too harsh for daily use.

Gallium

Melts near body temperature; used in cancer-related hypercalcemia research.

Activated Charcoal

Highly adsorptive carbon; antidote for many ingested poisons (not cyanide, kerosene).

Dry Ice

Solid CO₂; refrigerant; dermatologic cryotherapy for warts, acne.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

CO binds Hb forming carboxyhemoglobin; treat with 100 % O₂ or hyperbaric O₂.

Simethicone

Polydimethylsiloxane + silica; antiflatulent/antifoam agent.

Stannous Fluoride (SnF₂)

Single-dose anticaries agent in dentifrices; solutions prepared fresh.

Lead Poisoning (Plumbism)

Chronic Pb accumulation causing anemia, neuropathy (wrist/foot drop); treat with EDTA or BAL.

Goulard’s Extract

Lead subacetate solution; astringent and antiseptic.

Titanium Dioxide

White pigment with high refractive index; sunscreen (physical blocker) and opacifier.

Zirconium Salts

Former antiperspirants now limited; cause skin and pulmonary granulomas.

Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)

Laughing gas; inhalational anesthetic; stored in blue cylinders.

White Phosphorus

Waxy toxic allotrope used in rat poison; garlic breath and luminous vomitus in poisoning.

Red Phosphorus

Less reactive allotrope; used on match striking surfaces.

Arsenic Trioxide (As₂O₃)

White arsenic; wood preservative; antileukemic drug (Trisenox).

Mees Lines

White transverse fingernail lines signifying arsenic poisoning.

Tartar Emetic

Antimony potassium tartrate; emetic, expectorant, antischistosomal.

Bismuth Subsalicylate

Pink Bismuth; GI protectant, antibacterial, antidiarrheal (Pepto-Bismol).

Vanadium

Trace metal with insulin-mimetic properties; therapeutic use limited by toxicity.

Tantalum

Corrosion-resistant metal used in surgical bone repair (sheets).

Ozone (O₃)

Allotrope of oxygen; strong oxidizer; formed by electrical discharge in O₂.

Volume Strength (H₂O₂)

Number of oxygen volumes released by one volume of peroxide solution (e.g., 10-vol = 3 %).

Precipitated vs. Sublimed Sulfur

Amorphous sulfur for ointments (precipitated) vs. crystalline flowers of sulfur (sublimed).

Selenium Sulfide (SeS₂)

2.5 % suspension for seborrheic dermatitis; wash hands post-use to avoid toxicity.

Chromium (III)

Nutrient component of Glucose Tolerance Factor; Cr(VI) compounds are toxic.

Molybdenum

Trace cofactor for xanthine oxidase and nitrogen-fixation enzymes.

Uranium

Radioactive actinide used as reactor fuel; discovered by Becquerel.

Sodium Monofluorophosphate

Dentifrice anticaries salt; excess fluoride in children causes dental fluorosis.

Freon-12 (CCl₂F₂)

Chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant/propellant implicated in ozone depletion.

Diluted Hydrochloric Acid 10 %

Treatment for gastric achlorhydria; official USP concentration.

Bromism

Chronic bromide intoxication with skin eruptions, psychosis; treat with saline diuresis.

Lugol’s Solution

Strong iodine solution: 5 % I₂ + KI; pre-op for thyroid surgery, antiseptic.

Astatine

Radioactive halogen; only metallic member of Group VIIA.

Potassium Permanganate Stain

Brown stain removed by oxalic acid; illustrates strong oxidation ability.

Helium (He)

Inert gas used in 80 : 20 artificial air mixtures; produces high-pitched voice.

Argon

Most abundant noble gas; substitutes for nitrogen as inert atmosphere.

Cisplatin

Cis-diamminedichloro-platinum(II); platinum anticancer chemotherapeutic.

Ferric vs. Ferrous

+3 (yellow-brown solutions) vs. +2 (green solutions) oxidation states of iron.