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a group of chemicals used in addition to vascular and cavity embalming fluids; most are applied to the body surface

Accessory chemicals

a substance that yields hydrogen or hydronium ions in aqueous solution

Acid

a wax-like (soap-like) material produced by saponification of body fat in a body buried in alkaline soil

Adipocere (Gravewax)

an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups

Alcohols

an organic compound containing one or more —CHO groups. (formed from the partial oxidation of a primary alcohol)

Aldehyde

an organic compound containing nitrogen; any compounds formed from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic radicals. The general formula for primary amines is R-NH2

Amine

the building blocks of proteins; a compound containing an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl (-000H) group attached to an alpha carbon and a radical

Amino acid

any compound that can act as both an acid and a base in solution. Example- Amino acid

Amphoteric

used to keep the blood in the liquid state; chemicals that retard the tendency of the blood to become more viscous by natural post mortem processes and/or prevent any other adverse reactions from occurring between the blood and the other embalming chemicals. (Some buffers such as sodium citrate and oxylates are used as anticoagulants)

Anticoagulants

the concentrated, preservative embalming chemical that will be diluted with water to form the arterial solution for injection into the arterial system during vascular embalming

Arterial fluid

the smallest particle of an element that has all the properties of the element

Atom

self-digestion or self-destruction of the body by autolytic enzymes

Autolysis

those chemicals specifically designed for use in the preparation of bodies that have been autopsied

Autopsy chemicals

a substance that yields hydroxide ions in an aqueous solution

Bases

that branch of chemistry dealing with compounds produced by living organisms

Biochemistry

the rapid passage of liquid particles to the vapor state by forming bubbles through the action of heat

Boiling

substances that in solution are capable of neutralizing, within limits, both acids and bases and thereby maintaining the original, or constant pH, of the solution. (stabilize the pH)

Buffers

a compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen that is an aldehyde or ketone derivative of polyhydroxyl alcohol. Examples are sugars, starches, and glycogen

Carbohydrate

concentrated embalming chemicals which are injected into the cavities of the body following aspiration in cavity embalming. These fluids can also be used for surface and hypodermic embalming of the problem areas

Cavity fluids

a change in which a new substance or substances are produced that have entirely different properties from the original substance because the chemical composition has changed

Chemical changes

the branch of natural science that is concerned with the description and classification of matter, with the changes that matter undergoes, and with the energy associated with each of these changes

Chemistry

the process of converting soluble protein to insoluble protein by heating or by contact with a chemical such as an alcohol or an aldehyde. (Hard water promotes blood coagulation)

Coagulation

a solution-like system in which the size of the solute particle is between I and 100 nanometers. Particles of solute pass through filters but not membranes

Colloid

a substance consisting of two or more atoms combined chemically in definite proportions by mass

Compound

a solution containing a relatively large amount of solute

Concentrated solution

the ratio of mass or volume of a solute to the mass or volume of the solution or solvent

Concentration

a change of state of matter from a gas to a liquid

Condensation

a chemical bond in which a pair of electrons is shared between two atoms

Covalent bond

the gradual decomposition of dead organic matter by the enzymes of aerobic bacteria

Decay

the removal of water from a substance

Dehydration (desiccation)

the disruption and breakdown of the secondary structure of a protein by heat or chemicals

Denaturation

chemicals having the capability of displacing an unpleasant odor or of altering an unpleasant odor so that it is converted to a more pleasant one

Deodorants

an organic compound containing two aldehyde (-CHO) radicals

Dialdehyde

the movement of molecules or other particles in solution from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration until uniform concentration is reached

Diffusion

a solution containing relatively small amount of solute

Dilute solution

natural or synthetic matter that is used to impart color to another material

Dyes

a simple substance which cannot be decomposed by ordinary chemical means

Element

the study of those types of matter and changes in matter related to the disinfection and preservation of human remains

Embalming chemistry

the fluids specifically designed for preservation and disinfection purposes

Embalming fluids

the act of mixing two insoluble liquids Examples: oil in water by the action of soap; fats in digestion by the action of bile

Emulsification

a protein that acts as a biological catalyst

Enzyme

a compound with the general formula RCOOR' (where R is a hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen and R' is a hydrocarbon group). It is formed from an alcohol and organic (or carboxylic) acid by removal of water (dehydration)

Ester

any organic compound with the general formula ROR', where R and R' are hydrocarbon groups formed by dehydration between two alcohols

Ether

a common name for a triacylglycerol that is a semisolid or solid at room temperature and contains a high percentage of saturated fatty acids

Fats

the microbial (enzymatic) decomposition of carbohydrates under anaerobic conditions. The production of ethanol from carbohydrates

Fermentation

formaldehyde gas dissolved in water at 37% by weight and 40% by volume

Formalin

that amount of formaldehyde necessary to overcome any nitrogen residue and cause the body proteins to become coagulated

Formaldehyde demand (glutaraldehyde demand)

a change of state of matter from a liquid to a solid by the loss of heat. The term for the point of equilibrium between the solid and liquid states and typically employed when the temperature is decreasing

Freezing

a state of matter in which the atoms or molecules move about in almost complete freedom from one another. Gases have no definite shape or volume and assume the shape and volume of their container

Gases

the condition of water that results from dissolved minerals and metallic ions such as calcium and magnesium

Hardness of water

chemicals that increase the capability of embalmed tissues to retain moisture

Humectants

a compound in which there is a chemical union between water and certain substances when they crystallize

Hydrates

an organic compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen

Hydrocarbon

a chemical reaction in which a substance is broken down or dissociated by water; reaction between a salt and water to yield an acid and a base of unequal strengths.(upon hydrolysis, proteins yield amino acids)

Hydrolysis

a solution having a greater concentration of dissolved solute than the solution to which it is compared

Hypertonic solution

a solution having a lesser concentration of dissolved solute than the solution to which it is compared

Hypotonic solution

the swelling and softening of tissues and organs as a result of absorbing moisture from adjacent sources

Imbibition

the strength of embalming fluids indicated by the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 ml of solution. Index usually refers to a percentage. For example, an embalming fluid with an index of 25 usually contains 25% formaldehyde gas

Index

that branch of chemistry that studies the properties and reactions of elements, excluding organic or certain carbon-containing compounds

Inorganic chemistry

an atomic or molecular species with a positive (cation) or negative (anion) electrical charge; an atom of an element or a group of atoms acting as one unit that has lost or gained an electron or electrons

Ion

a solution having an equal concentration of dissolved solute as the solution to which it is compared

Isotonic Solution

any class of organic compounds containing the carbonyl group * (C=O) group whose carbon atom is joined to two other carbon atoms; the carbonyl group occurs within the carbon chain

Ketones

a chemical group composed of one carbon atom double bonded to oxygen

Carbonyl Group

the amount of a poison (or radiation) that will kill 50% of the group to which it has been administered

Lethal dose 50% (LD50)

a substance that flows readily but does not tend to expand indefinitely

Liquid

anything that has mass and occupies space

Matter

the change in state from a solid to a liquid

Melting

an element marked by luster, malleability, ductility, and conductivity of electricity and heat. Metallic elements tend to form positive ions

Metal

a combination of two or more substances not chemically united and NOT in definite proportion by mass. (can be separated by physical methods)

Mixture

the smallest dose of a poison (or radiation) on record that produces death

Minimum Lethal Dose (MLD)

chemicals for which there may be greatly varying demands predicated upon the type of embalming, the environment and the arterial fluid to be used

Modifying agents

the smallest unit of a compound which can exist alone; an aggregation of atoms, specifically a chemical of two or more atoms which form a specific chemical substance

Molecule

the reaction of an acid and a base to produce salt and water. (the chemical reaction between an acid and a base)

Neutralization

any element that is not a metal Nonmetals tend to form negative ions

Nonmetal

a common name for a triacylglycerol that is a liquid at room temperature and contains a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids

Oils

that branch of chemistry that deals with certain carbon-containing compounds

Organic chemistry

the passage of pure solvent from a solution of lesser solute concentration to one of greater solute concentration when the two solutions are separated by a semi-permeable membrane which selectively prevents the passage of solute molecules, but it is permeable to the solvent

Osmosis

a compound consisting of oxygen combined with only one other element

Oxide

a method of expressing low concentrations; 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 milligram per liter. (The measurement in HCHO testing)

Parts per million (ppm)

a bond formed from a dehydration reaction between the amino group on one amino acid with the carboxyl (organic acid) group on the other amino acid

Peptide bond

the tabular arrangement of the elements in order of increasing atomic number. This arrangement allows the columns of elements to represent the periodic recurrence of similar properties

Periodic table

the measure of hydrogen ion concentration of a solution (0 – 6 is acidic; 8 – 14 is alkaline (basic; 7 in neutral)

pH

a change in the form or state of matter without any change in chemical composition

Physical change

properties of a substance that are observed without a change in chemical composition, which include color, odor, taste, solubility, density, hardness, melting point, and boiling point

Physical properties

any substance that imperils health or life when absorbed into the body

Poison

the linking together of monomers or basic chemical units to form a polymer

Polymerization

fluids designed to clear the vascular system of blood and enable the arterial solution to distribute with greater facility

Pre-injection fluids (primary)

components of embalming solutions used to inactivate the active chemical groups of proteins and amino acids; to inhibit decomposition; to kill microorganisms; destroy odors and eliminate their further formation, and to inactivate enzymes

Preservatives

an alcohol in which the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached to a carbon that is attached to no more than one other carbon

Primary alcohol

characteristics by which substances may be identified

Properties

a biological component that is a polymer of many amino acids. (Hydrolysis of proteins yield amino acids.)

Protein

the decomposition of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria

Putrefaction

surface-active agents that are generally used for disinfection of skin, oral and nasal cavities, as well as instruments. (used as germicides)

Quaternary ammonium compounds

supplemental fluids may be separate fluids or ones enhancing arterial fluids by the addition of special chemicals such as humectants

Restorative fluids

any group of substances that result from the reaction between acids and bases other than water

Salt

the reaction between a fat and a strong base to produce glycerol and the salt of a fatty acid (soap)

Saponification

a solution containing all of the solute the solvent is able to hold at a certain temperature and pressure

Saturated solution

a compound whose hydrolytic products are fatty acids and alcohols

Simple lipids

the condensed state of matter having a definite shape and volume

Solid

the conversion of a liquid or a gas into a solid form

Solidification