Embalming Chem Quiz 8

nitrogen

main feature of amino acids and proteins; key player in aldehyde/protein reaction; big product of decomp

decomposition

break down of proteins into amino acids and amino acids into constituent molecules (including nitrogen);

free nitrogen

gives discoloration and odor during decomp

pathological considerations

some diseases can build up urea (nitrogen based) in body which will alter pH of body

pH environment

nitrogen creates alkaline environment, neutralizes aldehyde based embalming fluid

high nitrogen body examples

decomposed bodies (pH shift) and renal disease (urea retention)

amine

compounds and functional groups that contain nitrogen atom with lone pair of electrons

amine subcategories

primary (1 alkyl group), secondary (2 alkyl groups), tertiary (3 alykl groups)

primary amine

one hydrogen atom is replaced by an alkyl or aromatic group; buffering agent (hydroxymethyl) and produced by putrefaction

secondary amine

two hydrogens replaced with organic substituents; pheremones (rroaches) and anti-bruise for produce

tertiary amine

all three hydrogens replaced by organic substituents; fish odor of decomp, some acid/base reactions

amine production

protein decomp and nucleic acid decomp

ptomaines (diamine of fatty acid)

amines considered to be intermidiate products of decomp containing putrescine and cadaverine (funeral service term)

amines as bases

lone pair of electrons allows amine to react with water making it a true base

radical

"r" group, represent variable groups of atoms

large vs small radical

large R groups = less basic, small R group = more basic

death time interval

longer the time, more proteins break down—>more free nitrogen—>body becomes more basic

urotropin

the neutralization product of formaldehyde and ammonia

ammonium salt

quaternary ammonium compound; generated on lone electron pair on nitrogen; surfactant

cationic surfactant

ability to dissolve lipid membranes of cell—>increases penetration of embalming fluid for better diffusion

heterocycle

any atom other than carbon is introduced into aromatic ring system

heterocyclic amine

carbon ring with at least one atom that is not carbon but instead nitrogen

pyrrole

five membraned heterocyclic ring

heme

major constituent of hemoglobin and myoglobin; 4 pyrrole = heme

hemoglobin

carries oxygen from lungs to tissues, found in red blood cells, binds to 4 oxygen molecules

myoglobin

stores oxygen in muscle cells, found in muscle cells, binds to 1 oxygen, weighs less than hemoglobin

indoles

bicyclic structure containing 2 rings: 6 member ring (benzene) and 5 member ring (pyrrole); main feature of tryptophan, fecal smell

skatole

product of protein decomp; biyclic structure with a 6 member ring and 5 member heterocyclic ring; produced from tryptophan

imidazole

5 membraned heterocyclic amine, but with two amine atoms; histamine and histidine (examples)

pyridine

6 membrane aromatic ring with a nitrogen atom; solvent, organic base, or reagent

pyrimidine

aromatic heterocyclic compound with nitrogen base fused to many compounds in nature; main player in DNA and RNA

purine

heterocyclic aromatic organic compound with a nitrogen base; also found in DNA and RNA

amide

compounds with a nitrogen and carbonyl group; refers to both functional group and class of compounds with the same functionality

amide formation

combining carboxylic acid and amine