Fundamentals of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Matter and Isotopes

Flashcards covering key definitions, concepts, and applications related to matter, atoms, isotopes, and their medical uses, based on the 'FUNCHEM.1 Matter: The Basis of Life. Isotopes' lecture notes.

What is 'matter'?

Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass.

What is an 'element'?

An element is a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means.

What is an 'atom'?

An atom is the smallest unit of an element that still retains the properties of the element and is the smallest part of an element that can undergo a chemical reaction.

What are the four most abundant elements in the human body?

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen.

What is the function of Oxygen in the human body?

It is essential for cellular respiration.

What is the function of Carbon in the human body?

It forms the backbone of organic compounds.

What is the function of Hydrogen in the human body?

It is a component of organic compounds and plays a role in acid-base balance.

What is the function of Nitrogen in the human body?

It is a component of proteins, nucleic acids, and cell membranes.

What are the three main subatomic particles found in an atom?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What is the charge and location of a proton?

A proton has a +1 charge and is located in the nucleus.

What is the charge and location of a neutron?

A neutron has a 0 (neutral) charge and is located in the nucleus.

What is the charge and location of an electron?

An electron has a -1 charge and orbits the nucleus.

What is the 'atomic number' (Z) of an element?

The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element, and it determines the identity of the atom.

How does the number of protons relate to the number of electrons in an electrically neutral atom?

In an electrically neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.

What is the 'mass number' (A) of an atom?

The mass number (A) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

How is the number of neutrons in a nucleus calculated?

The number of neutrons is calculated as Mass number (A) - Atomic number (Z).

What is a 'molecule'?

A molecule is an aggregate of at least two atoms in a definite arrangement held together by chemical forces (chemical bonds).

What are 'isotopes'?

Isotopes are atoms of an element that have the same number of protons (same atomic number) but different numbers of neutrons (different mass numbers).

What happens to unstable isotopes?

Unstable isotopes break down and emit radiation.

What are the two main medical applications of isotopes?

Diagnostic (detection) and Therapeutic (treatment).

What is Technetium-99 (99Tc) primarily used for in medical diagnosis?

It is widely used to obtain images of organs like the liver, heart, and lungs.

How are Iodine-131 (131I) and Iodine-125 (125I) used in medical diagnostics?

They are used to detect malfunctioning thyroid glands, with 131I measuring absorption rates and 125I imaging the gland.

What is Sodium-24 (24Na) used for in medical applications?

It is used to detect blockages in the circulatory system by tracing blood flow.

What is the purpose of radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy aims to destroy cancer cells using high-energy radiation.

What are the two types of radiation damage?

Somatic damage (affects the organism during its lifetime) and Genetic damage (inherited by offspring).

What is the 'average atomic mass' of an element?

The average atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an atom of the element, accounting for the natural abundance and atomic mass of all its isotopes.

How is the average atomic mass of an element calculated?

It is calculated by multiplying the natural abundance (as a decimal) of each isotope by its atomic mass and summing these products.