Periodic Table Transition Metals (Groups IB - VIIIB)

Group IB: Coinage Metals

• Copper (Cu)

• Silver (Ag)

• Gold (Au)

Characteristics of Group IB Elements

• Occur freely in nature

• Not very chemically active

• Cu (I), Ag, Au (I) halides are nearly insoluble in water

• Forms complex ions with ammonia

Pharmaceutical uses of Copper

• Facilitates Iron (Fe) absorption and mobilization

• Enzyme Complexes

Pharmaceutical uses of Silver

• Protein perspirant

• Astringent

Pharmaceutical uses of Gold

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Argyria

A condition wherein there is too much silver deposits in the body leading to the blue discoloration of skin

Group IIB: Volatile Metals

• Zinc (Zn)

• Cadmium (Cd)

• Mercury (Hg)

Oxidation States of Group IIB Elements

2+

Pharmaceutical uses of Zinc

• Enzyme complexes

• Astringent (as Zinc sulfate; ZnSO₄)

Pharmaceutical uses of Cadmium

• Toxic element

• causes “Itai-itai disease”

Pharmaceutical uses of Mercury

• Toxic element

• Causes “Minamata disease”

Group IIIB

Lanthanides and Actinides

Pharmaceutical uses of Cerium

Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ are used in titrimetric analysis

Ce³⁺: colorless

Ce⁴⁺: Orange red

Pharmaceutical uses of Ytterbium

Yb-169 is used for brain scanning and glomerular filtration rate studies

Group IVB

• Titanium (Ti)

• Zirconium (Zr)

• Hafnium (Hf)

Common oxidation states of Group IVB

0, 2+, 3+, 4+

Pharmaceutical uses of Titanium

Used as an opacifying agent (i.e. Titanium Dioxide in sunscreen)

Group VB

• Vanadium (V)

• Niobium (Nb)

• Tantalum (Ta)

Characteristics of Group VB

• Principle Oxidation State: 5+

• Practically inert to chemical action

Columbium

Former name of Niobium

Pharmaceutical uses of Tantalum

Used for corrosion-resistant applications in medicine

Group VIB

• Chromium (Cr)

• Molybdenum (Mo)

• Tungsten (W)

Chromium Ions

• Cr²⁺: blue color; strong reducing agent

• Cr³⁺: green color

• Cr⁶⁺ (as CrO₄²⁻): yellow color

• Cr⁶⁺ (as Cr₂O₇²⁻): orange color

Pharmaceutical uses of Chromium

• Cr³⁺ - essential trace element; enhances glucose tolerance

• Salts, chromates and dichromates are destructive to tissue

Pharmaceutical uses of Molybdenum

Essential element

Group VIIB

• Manganese (Mn)

• Technetium (Tc)

• Rhenium (Re)

Manganese ions

• Mn²⁺: colorless

• Mn³⁺,Mn⁴⁺: unstable

• Mn⁶⁺: green in alkali solutions

• Mn⁷⁺: violet

Pharmaceutical uses of Manganese

• Metalloproteins, metabolism

• Chronic Manganism (manganese poisoning that affects the central nervous system

• Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) is used as a redox volumetric solution

Pharmaceutical uses of Technetium

• First artificially produced element

• Lightest element where all isotopes are radioactive

• Radiopharmaceutical uses

Group VIIIB

Iron Triad:

• Iron (Fe)

• Cobalt (Co)

• Nickel (Ni)

Light Platinum Triad:

• Ruthenium (Ru)

• Rhodium (Rh)

• Palladium (Pd)

Heavy Platinum Triad:

• Osmium (Os)

• Iridium (Ir)

• Platinum (Pt)

Iron Triad Cations

• Fe²⁺: slight green

• Fe³⁺: yellow

• Co²⁺ (w/ water): red

• Co²⁺ (w/o water): blue

• Ni²⁺: green

Pharmaceutical uses of Iron

primary component in hemoglobin

Pharmaceutical uses of Cobalt

• Cobalt Chloride (CoCl₂) paper - used for testing humidity

• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)

Pharmaceutical uses of Osmium

Heaviest element

Pharmaceutical uses of Platinum and its compounds

• Catalyst

• Platinum crucibles

• Anti-cancer drugs (i.e. cisplatin)