4.1 INORGANIC MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY (GROUP 1)

GROUP IA - ALKALI METAL

• Do not occur free in nature 

• Very active chemically; displace all other elements from their chemical compound 

• Oxides & hydroxides are strongly basic 

• Alkali halides are soluble in water & are not hydrolyzed 

• Univalent (Valence = 1) 

• From simple cation; do not form complex cation with ammonia 

• All rapidly oxidized in air

• Most reactive group (seldom found free in nature)

• Soluble group 

• Activity, alkalinity: increases with atomic number (Na-11; K-19 as OH-more alkaline)

• Degree of solvation: increase with ↓atomic # (Na more soluble)

GROUP IA - ALKALI METAL

• ELEMENTS

Hydrogen

Lithium

Sodium

Potassium

Ammonia (hypothetical / pseudoalkali metal)

Cesium

Rubidium

Hydrogen (H₂)

• aka

inflammable air

Hydrogen (H₂)

• physical properties

• Lightest element

• Most abundant element in the universe (2^nd is Lithium)

• Water forming- when burned with O₂

Hydrogen (H₂)

• isotopes

• protium

• deuterium

• tritium

Protium

Most Abundant

deuterium

• Heavy Hydrogen

D2O

• Heavy water / deuterated water, solvent for NMR

TRITIUM

radioactive

Hydrogen (H₂)

• Preparation

• Lane & Messerschmidt process 

  • 99% pure H₂-conversion of water to H₂

Hydrogen (H₂)

• industrial uses

• Haber process

• Oil hydrogenation

• Balloon inflation

• Gas Chromatography gas carrier /mobile phase

Haber process

N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃  @ high pressures

Oil hydrogenation

Margarine production

Gas Chromatography gas carrier /mobile phase

Also: He- most common mobile phase in GC; N

Lithium (Li)

• aka

earth

Lithium (Li)

• physical properties

• Lithos (earth, rock) 

• Lightest metal

Lithium (Li)

• pharmacologic use

• depressant and sedative

• mood stabilizer

• DOC for manic/ bipolar disorder

Lithium (Li)

• Depressant & diuretic: Side effect

•  hypovolemia, hyponatremia

• ↑Li ↓Na

Lithium (Li)

• Drug of choice for manic/bipolar disorder: side effect

narrow Therapeutic index

Lithium (Li)

• non-pharmacologic use

Heat exchanger in air conditioner

Lithium (Li)

• chemical compounds

Lithium Bromide (LiBr)

Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3)

Lithium Bromide (LiBr)

• Additive sedative effects

• Depressant

Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3)

• Eskalith®

• Lithase®

• Quilonium®

• Drug of choice for mania, bipolar

Sodium (Na)

• aka

natrium

Sodium (Na)

Physical & Physiological Properties

• Extracellular fluid/ion 

• Promotes fluid retention 

• Cation of choice for orgmeds

Na+

• Most abundant extracellular cation

• For fluid retention

• Excess causes edema

Sodium Acetate (CH₃COONa)

• Diuretic

• Urinary and systemic alkalinizer

• Antacid

Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)

• Systemic antacid and carbonating agent

• Carbonating agent for effervescent tablets/preparation (reaction with organic acid like citric acid releases CO₂) which is used for increased palatability or mask saline taste of preparation 

• Antidote for Zn poisoning

Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)

• s/e

Systemic alkalosis, rebound hyperacidity, edema

Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate (NaH₂PO₄)

• aka

fleet enema

Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate (NaH₂PO₄)

• Cathartic

• Source of phosphorus and phosphate

• Urinary acidifier

Sodium Metabisulfite (Na₂S₂O₅)/  Sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃)

Water soluble antioxidant (Na₂S₂O₅ preferred)

Sodium Carbonate anhydrous (Na₂CO₃)

• aka

soda ash

Sodium Carbonate anhydrous (Na₂CO₃)

• Antacid 

• Source of carbonate 

• Carbonating agent

Na₂CO₃. 2H₂O

Trona, official form

Na₂CO₃. 10H₂O

• Washing soda 

• Sal soda 

• Soda crystal

Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

• aka

Rock Salt, Table Salt, Solar Salt(purest form)

Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

• Electrolyte replenisher

• Tonicity adjusting agent

• Preservative

Sodium Citrate (Na₃C₆H₅O₇)

• Alkalinizer

• Buffer

• Diuretic

• Expectorant

• Decrease Coagulation Time

• Sequestering property used in Benedict's solution

Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

• aka

caustic soda, sosa, lye

Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

saponifying agent

Sodium Fluoride (NaF)

Anticariogenic (2% solution)

Sodium Phosphite (Na₂HPO₃)

reducing agent

Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO)

• aka

dakin’s solution, chlorox

Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO)

• Oxidizing agent

• Disinfectant for inanimate objects

• Bleaching agent

Sodium Iodide (Nal)

• Expectorant

• Antifungal

• I₂ solubilizer

• Ameliorating agent for goiter

Sodium Lactate (NaC₃H₅O₃)

• Antacid 

• Diuretic

Sodium Nitrite (NaNO₂)

• Vasodilator 

• Meat preservative 

• Antidote for cyanide poisoning

Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃)

• aka

chile salt peter

Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃)

preservative

Sodium Sulfate (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O)

• aka

galuber’s salt

Sodium Sulfate (Na₂SO₄·10H₂O)

cathartic

Sodium Tartrate (Na₂C₄H₄O)

Primary standard used for Karl Fischer for Water Content Determination

Sodium Thiocyanate (NaSCN)

Hypotensive agent

Sodium Thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O)

• aka

Hypochlor, Photographer’s Hypo, Antichlor

Sodium Thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O)

• Treatment for cyanide poisoning with NaNO₂

• Antidote for iodine poisoning

• Standard in lodometry & Permanganometry

Potassium (K)

• aka

kalium (potash)

Potassium (K)

• physical properties

Most abundant & predominant intracellular cation

Potassium (K)

• pharmacologic uses

• Used as diuretic and important in muscle contraction (also Ca) 

• For hypokalemia (K+ deficiency) and muscle paralysis

Potassium Acetate (KC₂H₃O₂

• Antacid

• Diuretic

• Urinary & systemic alkalinizer

Potassium Bicarbonate (K₂HCO₃)

• Systemic antacid

• Carbonating agent

• Bicarbonate source

Potassium Bromide (KBr)

• Depressant 

• Sedative

Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)

• aka

Potash, Salt of Peter, Perlash

Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)

• Antacid 

• Carbonating agent 

• Carbonate source

Potassium Chlorate (KClO₃)

• Oxidizing agent

• Component in toothpaste, gargle & mouthwash

Potassium Chloride (KCl)

• Electrolyte replenisher

• Given IV slow push

Potassium Citrate (K₃C₆H₅O₇)

• Diuretic

• Expectorant 

• Diaphoretic

Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)

• aka

caustic potash, lye potash

Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)

Saponifying agent (soft soap)

Potassium Iodide (KI)

• Expectorant

• Antiseptic

• Antifungal

• Iodine solubilizer

Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃)

• aka

Saltpeter, Salitre, Salt prunelle

Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃)

• Diuretic 

• Meat preservative

Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄)

• aka

mineral chameleon

Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄)

• Oxidizing agent

• Antiseptic

• Volumetric solution in permanganometry

Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KH₂PO₄)

cathartic

Potassium bitartrate (KHC₄H₄O₆)

• Cream of Tartar

• Laxative

• Cathartic

Potassium Sodium Tartrate (KNaC₄H₄O₆)

• aka

rochelle salt, sal signette

Potassium Sodium Tartrate (KNaC₄H₄O₆)

• Cathartic 

• Sequestering agent 

• Strong oxidizing agent

Sulfurated Potash (K₂S_x·K₂S₂O₃)

• aka

Liver of Sulfur

Sulfurated Potash (K₂S_x·K₂S₂O₃)

• MIxture of Potassium sulfide, Potassium polysulfide, Potassium thiosulfate

• Used in preparation of White Lotion with addition of ZnSO₄

Ammonium (NH₄⁺)

• physical properties

• Hypothetical/ pseudoalkali metal 

• Conjugate acid of NH₃

Ammonium (NH₄⁺)

• haber’s process

Commercial method of preparation of ammonia

Ammonium (NH₄⁺)

• pharmacologic use

• Diuretic 

• Expectorant 

• Buffer component

Ammonium Bromide (NH₄Br)

• Depressant 

• Sedative

Ammonium Carbonate (NH₄)₂CO₃

• aka

Sal Volatile, Hart’s horn, Preston salt 

Ammonium Carbonate (NH₄)₂CO₃

• Expectorant

• Antacid 

• Respiratory stimulant 

• For preparation of Aromatic NH₃ spirit

Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl)

• aka

Muriate of Hartshorn

Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl)

• Expectorant 

• Diuretic 

• Systemic acidifier in alkalosis

Ammoniated Mercury (HgNH₂Cl)

• White precipitate” 

• Topical anti-fungal, anti-infective

Ammonium Iodide (NH₄I)

• Source of iodine 

• Expectorant 

• Anti-fungal /antiseptic

Ammonium Acetate (NH₄CH₃COO)

• aka

spirit of mineresus

Ammonium Acetate (NH₄CH₃COO)

styptic (stop bleeding of wound)

Ammonia (NH₃

• Respiratory stimulant (pungent odor) 

• Basic (blue litmus paper)

Household ammonia

10% or 16^O (degree Baume) NH₃

Dilute ammonia solution (Ammonia water)

• 9.5-10.5% NH₃

• Neutralize insect / jellyfish stings

Strong ammonia solution / water (Spirit of Hartshorn)

27-31% NH₃

Aromatic ammonia spirit (Spirit of Sal Volatile)

Strong ammonia solution + ammonium carbonate (others: volatile oils of nutmeg & lemon, EtOH)

Cesium (Cs)

• description

• Spectral line: blue: 1860

• 1st element discovered by use of spectroscope (Kirchoff-bunsen spectroscope)

Cesium (Cs)

• use

Catalyst in polymerization of resin forming material

Rubidium (Rb)

Spectral line: red; 1861