INORGANIC CHEMISTRY NOTES - VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering groups, elements, compounds, and key toxicities/uses from the notes.

Alkali metals (Group 1A)

Group 1A elements: H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, and NH4+. Very reactive; usually soluble in water; valence +1.

Hydrogen (H2)

Lightest element; forms water (H2 + O2 → H2O) when burned; isotopes: protium, deuterium, tritium.

Protium

Most abundant, stable isotope of hydrogen (1H).

Deuterium

Heavy isotope of hydrogen; forms heavy water (D2O).

Tritium

Radioactive isotope of hydrogen.

Haber process

Industrial synthesis of ammonia from N2 and H2: N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3 at high pressure.

Ammonia (NH3)

Basic, pungent gas used in household cleaners; strong solutions called ammonium hydroxide.

Ammonium ion (NH4+)

Weak base; common cation in alkali-metal-like chemistry.

Lithium (Li)

Lightest metal; uses include diuretic and mood stabilizer (Li2CO3 in bipolar disorder).

Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3)

Lithium salt used in bipolar disorder therapy (Eskalith®, Lithase®, Quilonium-R®).

Grignard reagent (RMgX)

Alkyl magnesium halide used to form alcohols and other products in organic synthesis.

Sodium (Na)

Native element (Natrium); key cation in medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis.

Potassium (K)

Kalium; diuretic and muscle contractant uses; soluble K+ salts.

Rubidium (Rb)

Alkali metal with a red spectral line; trace element in notes.

Cesium (Cs)

Blue spectral line; catalyst in resin polymerization; first element discovered by spectroscope.

Ammonia (NH3)

Weak base gas; respiratory stimulant in some preparations; used in household products.

Ammonium (NH4+)

Weak base cation; common in inorganic chemistry as NH4+ salt forms.

Be (eryllium)

Most toxic metal; not used in medicine.

Magnesium (Mg)

Lightest structurally important metal; role in chlorophyll; Grignard reagents; sources include talc, magnesite, dolomite, kieserite.

Calcium (Ca)

Bones/teeth (hydroxyapatite); calcination to CaO; slaking to Ca(OH)2; lime water; phosphates and related minerals.

Strontium (Sr)

+2 metal; used in flare manufacture; radioactive Sr used in bone scanning.

Barium (Ba)

Heavy metal

Radium (Ra)

Radioactive element used in radiotherapy and diagnostics (historical).

Boron (B)

Industrial use in vulcanizing rubber.

Aluminum (Al)

Source from cryolite; used as astringent; antiperspirant; aluminum foil; burns.

Gallium (Ga)

Melts near body temperature; substitutes for mercury in lamps; binds transferrin to treat hypercalcemia.

Indium (In)

Group 13 element with niche uses; not widely described in notes.

Thallium (Tl)

Toxic metal; green twigs; insecticide/poison in notes.

Carbon (C)

Catenation; multiple bonds; allotropes: diamond, graphite, amorphous carbon, and forms like coke.

Silicon (Si)

Tetravalent metalloid; essential in semiconductors; part of carbon group.

Germanium (Ge)

Eka-silicon; metalloid with semiconductor properties.

Tin (Sn)

Stannum; exists in +2 and +4 oxidation states.

Lead (Pb)

Plumbum; heavy metal; use as protein precipitant; toxic in various forms.

Nitrogen group (Group 5A)

Elements N, P, As, Sb, Bi; all in notes as a group discussion.

Nitrogen (N2)

Azote; inert atmosphere; liquid nitrogen for cryogenic cooling.

Phosphorus (P)

Allotropes White/Yellow, Red/Violet, Black; essential for protoplasm; phosphates in physiology.

White/Yellow phosphorus

Waxy solid; fluoresces in light; highly reactive; toxic.

Red/Violet phosphorus

Less active allotrope; used in matches and pyrotechnics.

Black phosphorus

Graphite-like allotrope of phosphorus.

Arsenic (As)

Lewisite toxin; various arsenicals; historic medicines and poisons; diverse compounds like Fowler’s solution.

Antimony (Sb)

Stibium; red-orange sulfide ore; astringent/antiseptic; can be emetic or expectorant.

Bismuth (Bi)

Bi; uses include antiseptic and protective internal agent; forms like bismuth subsalicylate.

Oxygen group (Chalcogens, Group 6A)

Elements O, S, Se, Te, Po; diverse oxidation states and uses.

Oxygen (O2)

Essential diatomic gas; several allotropes; ozone (O3) is a powerful oxidizing agent.

Sulfur (S)

Brimstone; multiple allotropes; used as antiseborrheic, keratolytic, and in depilatories; several sulfur forms.

Selenium (Se)

Trace element; antioxidant; industrial use in rubber.

Tellurium (Te)

Chalcogen; counted among metalloids in notes.

Polonium (Po)

Radioactive element in chalcogen group.

Halogens (Group 7A)

Elements F, Cl, Br, I, At; highly reactive nonmetals; -1 oxidation state.

Fluorine (F2)

Strongest oxidizing agent; suppresses thyroid when iodine is deficient; uses include NaF and SnF2.

Chlorine (Cl2)

Dephlogisticated muriatic acid; disinfectant; water sanitization.

Bromine (Br2)

Red-brown liquid; caustic and germicidal; bromides sedative.

Iodine (I2)

Heavy nonmetal; sublimates to violet vapors; Lugol’s solution and povidone-iodine preparations.

Astatine (At)

Radioactive, synthetic halogen.

Noble/inert gases (Group 8A)

He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn; inert; used in shielding, lighting, anesthesia (Xe), etc.

Helium (He)

Lightest noble gas; used in breathing mixtures for diving and research.

Neon (Ne)

Neon lights; inert atmosphere applications.

Argon (Ar)

Inert atmosphere for pharma and lab work.

Krypton (Kr)

Inhalational anesthesia in some contexts.

Xenon (Xe)

Inhalational anesthesia (investigational in many uses).

Radon (Rn)

Radioactive noble gas; rare medicinal notes.

Copper (Cu)

Cuprum; Cu+1 disproportionates to Cu0 and Cu+2; essential in proteins (hemocyanin, cytochrome oxidase); used as protein precipitant.

Silver (Ag)

Argentum; germicidal; forms: Argyrol (mild proteinates), Protargol, Collargol; silver wounds and eyes.

Gold (Au)

Aurum; 24 karats pure; dissolved by aqua regia or selenic acid; DMARDs (e.g., auranofin) for rheumatoid arthritis.

Silver proteinates

Mild and strong protein-bound silver compounds with antimicrobial uses.

Cisplatin (Pt complex)

Platinum-based chemotherapy (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum) for cancer.

Iron triad (Fe, Co, Ni)

Iron group elements with +2/+3 oxidation states; important biological and industrial roles.

Iron (Fe)

Ferrum; heme proteins (hemoglobin, cytochrome oxidase); transport and storage forms (transferrin, ferritin); various iron forms (pig iron, wrought iron, cementite, gray cast iron).

Cobalt (Co)

Co; essential for vitamin B12 (cobalamin); magnets and enzyme roles.

Nickel (Ni)

Ni; historically called nickel’s copper; used in alloys; skin sensitivity risk.

Rhodium (Rh)

Rh; part of the lighter triads; catalytic and alloy uses.

Ruthenium (Ru)

Ru; part of light triad; medicinal and catalytic roles.

Palladium (Pd)

Pd; noble metal with catalytic and medicinal uses.

Osmium (Os)

Os; osmium tetroxide and osmic acid for staining in microscopy.

Iridium (Ir)

Ir; noble metal with high corrosion resistance.

Platinum (Pt)

Pt; noble metal; anticancer drug cisplatin; catalytic uses.

Titanium subgroup elements (Ti, Zr, Hf)

Ti, Zr, Hf; widespread uses; Ti as reducing agent; Zr/Hf with industrial/medical applications.

Titanium (Ti)

Titan; powerful reducing agent; used as blocking agent in capsules and coatings.

Zirconium (Zr)

Similar use to Al in some contexts; safety bans in certain applications.

Hafnium (Hf)

Hafnium; inert, specialized applications in industry.

Vanadium subgroup (V, Nb, Ta)

Elements with inert or biomedical uses; Nb/Ta used in implants and inert materials.

Vanadium (V)

Insulin-mimetic metal; toxicity limits its medical use.

Niobium (Nb)

Nb; inert in body fluids; sheet form for bone/tissue repair.

Tantalum (Ta)

Ta; inert to body fluids; surgical repair materials.

Chromium subgroup (Cr, Mo, W, U)

Cr for oxidation states; Mo as cofactor; W for nuclear/industrial uses; U is radioactive.

Chromium (Cr)

Cr2+ reducing agent; Cr3+ nutritional trace; Cr6+ toxic; chromate/dichromate oxidizing agents.

Molybdenum (Mo)

Trace element; cofactor for enzymes (xanthine oxidase).

Tungsten (W)

Tungsten; high-density metal in industry.

Uranium (U)

Radioactive element; applications in reactors and bombs.

Manganese (Mn)

Trace element; cofactor in metabolism; Mn-containing enzymes.

Technetium (Tc)

Artificially produced element; radiopharmaceuticals.

Rhenium (Re)

Transition metal in catalysts and industry.

Bohrium (Bh)

Element in the heavy transition series

Iron form varieties

Cast iron, wrought iron, gray cast iron, cementite; properties differ by carbon content.

Cobalt-containing vitamin B12

Cobalt as part of cyanocobalamin; essential for RBC formation.

Argyria

Blue-gray skin discoloration due to chronic silver exposure.

Wilson’s disease

Copper overload; bronze skin; treated with chelators like penicillamine.

Minamata disease

Mercury poisoning causing neurological damage; famous environmental case.

Chelating agents (EDTA, DMSA, BAL, penicillamine)

Agents that chelate heavy metals for detoxification.

Goiter

Enlargement of the thyroid; iodine deficiency linked to cretinism.