Comps Chemistry Listing & Extra Questions

Preservatives

Aldehydes

Alcohols

Phenols

Humectants

Glycerol/ Glycol

Sorbitol

Lanolin

Actions of Preservatives

Inactivates Proteins

Inactivates Enzymes

Inhibits Decomp

Kills Microbes

Destroys Odors

Buffers (also used as anticoagulants)

Borax

Sodium Phosphate

Citrate

EDTA

Acetone

found in accessory embalming chemicals, external sealing composition, lip tint, solvents, & sealants. A solvent commonly used to remove nail polish (also in paint thinner) (may be used to remove tar)

Alcohols

used as disinfectants and solvents

Methyl alcohol (methanol)

is added to HCHO to prevent polymerization.

Ethyl alcohol

is used in cavity fluid and cosmetics.

Amaranth (red dye #2)

used as a colorant in the embalming process (most commonly used dyes are: eosin, erythrosine, ponceau, & amaranth)

Ammonia

neutralizes HCHO to Urotropin (Methenamine, & also called Hexamethalene tetramine)

Camphor

found in embalming fluid (local exposure may cause irritation)

EDTA (sodium salts)

acts as a buffer and anticoagulant in arterial fluids

Formaldehyde

a colorless gas with a strong odor used as a preservative in embalming fluids.

Formic Acid

found in supplement embalming chemicals and bleaching agents (corrosive to skin and mucous membranes.) An active irritant in the defensive secretions of bees, ants, and other insects.

Glutaraldehyde

a liquid preservative used in cold liquid sterilants. When used in embalming fluids, it changes the nature of proteins making them unsuitable as food for bacteria, and makes them resistant to decomposition changes. It is many times more effective as a disinfectant than formaldehyde.

Glycols

used as a humectant

Hypochlorites

(Chlorine salts) found in embalming deodorant, bleach, and disinfectants

Mineral Spirits

found in liquid embalming cosmetics and sprays, and organic solvents

Orthodichlorobenzene

found in cavity and supplemental embalming chemicals and gels, and bleaching agents. (Irritating to skin, eyes, and the upper respiratory tract)

Paradichlorobenzene

a mold inhibitor that is added to deodorizing powder

Paraformaldehyde

solid form of formaldehyde. Found in embalming/deodorizing powders, cavity desiccants, and hardening compounds. (settles as a white powder in embalming fluid)

Phenol / Phenolic Compounds

(Carbolic Acid) – Antiseptic/disinfectant employed to dry moist tissues and to bleach discolored tissues. (A derivative of benzene) a preservative

Plaster of Paris (Calcium Sulfate)

A white powdery substance that forms a quick-setting paste when mixed with water. A dehydrating agent found in “hardening compounds” which is commonly used when referring to solid autopsy compounds. It is also used to repair the calvarium. When mixed with water it is called “gypsum.”

Quartz

found in finishing powder

Talc

Talcum powder used in drying powder.

Quaternary ammonium compounds

disinfectants (also used in cavity and accessory embalming fluids. (used as germicides)

Sodium hydroxide (Lye)

used as a chemical base in the production of soaps and detergents. It is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air

Toulene

a good solvent for paints and varnishes. Also found in external embalming sealers, lip cosmetics and cosmetic sprays. (A derivative of benzene.) It is obtained from the bark of the South American tolu tree.

Aldehyde

an organic compound containing one or more —CHO groups

(Formed from the partial oxidation of a primary alcohol)

preserve tissue

Formaldehyde is an ingredient of embalming fluid used to:

H-CHO (RCHO)

The structural formula of formaldehyde:

Properties of formaldehyde:

1. Colorless gas

2. Dissolves in water

3. Cross-links proteins

4. converts proteins to tertiary amines

5. reacts to preserve protein

6. reacts with the protein by the process of dehydrolysis

7. combines with water to form methylene glycol

strong reducing agent

Formaldehyde is a

Aldehydes

are formed from the partial oxidation of a primary alcohol

Methanal

is another name for formaldehyde

(***methanol is an alcohol that is added to HCHO to prevent precipitation)

methanol (methyl alcohol)

Polymerization of formaldehyde is inhibited by the addition of

–OH

The chemical group that makes an alcohol molecule soluble in water is

Formalin

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

Paraformaldehyde

is the powder or solid form of formaldehyde. It is a common ingredient in an autopsy chemical. It settles as a white powder in embalming fluid.

(can be observed in bottles of formaldehyde-based embalming fluid that have exceeded their shelf life or have been subjected to low temperatures)

Urotropin (Hexamethalene tetramine, or Methenamine

Ammonia neutralizes formaldehyde to

neutralization of the action of formaldehyde

A consideration with uremia and the production of ammonia in the toxic waste products in the blood is

apply ammonia to the spill which will neutralize the HCHO

According to OSHA, the proper way to neutralize a formaldehyde spill is to:

Cavity fluids

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. (Index greater than 35) (Do NOT contain dyes.)

(Cavity fluids have no active dyes)

Phenol (Carbolic Acid) & Cavity Fluid

are used in compresses for bleaching & cauterizing

Alcohol (Isopropyl / rubbing)

neutralizes the action of phenol

Jaundice fluids are

low index to inhibit bilirubin from converting to biliverdin (keeps the body from turning green) (the reaction that causes the conversion of bilirubin to biliverdin is oxidation)

Surfactants

(surface tension reducers/wetting agents/penetrating agents) — chemicals that will reduce the molecular cohesion of a liquid and thereby enable it to flow through smaller apertures (aids in penetration)

Sodium lauryl sulfate

is a surfactant (it is added to surface gels to facilitate the penetration of the preservative during surface embalming)

low surface tension liquids spread over a greater area

Surface tension is important to disinfection because

surfactants or surface active agents

Sulfonates are

Humectants

are chemicals that increase the capability of embalmed tissues to retain moisture

humectant (a less concentrated, softening, more dilute solution)

For an emaciated body, the embalmer should use a

More humectant

In an emaciated (dehydrated) body you would use ____________ in the solution

Buffers

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

(some buffers are used as anticoagulants)

Buffers are added to arterial fluid to stabilize the pH

buffer

A type of chemical that resists changes in pH is called a

Anticoagulants

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

Hard water; Blood clots

Minerals that cause _______ also create problems in embalming because they promote __________

Calcium; Magnesium & Iron

Anticoagulants bind to _______ (they also bind to ___________ & _________, but there is not enough iron to cause clotting). Metals such as calcium, magnesium and iron are most often responsible for hard water.

Solution

a homogeneous mixture of one or more substances (solutes) dissolved in a sufficient quantity of solvent. (contains dissolved substances)

Solute

a substance dissolved in a solvent to form a solution; the component of a solution present in a lesser amount

Solvent

a substance that does the dissolving in a solution; the component of a solution present in a greater amount

Saturated

contains all the solute the solvent can hold at a certain temperature & pressure

Hypertonic

contains more solute than a solution that it is compared to

Concentrated

contains a relatively large amount of solute

Supersaturated

contains more of the solute than the solution is normally able to hold

dyes.

Eosin, ponceau red, and erythrosine (cudbear) are examples of

dyes (such as eosin, ponceau red, and erythrosine) (cudbear is an older dye)

Cosmetic fluids generally contain

no active dyes

Cavity fluids have …

Methyl salicylate (Oil of Wintergreen)

neutralizes ptomains. (a masking agent)

Benzaldehyde is a deodorant.

hypertonic solution

If the deceased has edema, the embalmer should use a __________ which will remove more fluid from tissues

high index solution (Hypertonic) (renal failure/uremia would indicate large amounts of ammonia in the tissues)

For anasarca and renal failure, use a

Hypotonic solution (low index)

is used for emaciation

slightly hypotonic.

Solutions for normal bodies are

Sodium hypochlorite

household bleach – is a strong disinfectant (do not mix with HCHO – produces the carcinogen - BCME) Use as a disinfectant for cleaning equipment (such as a body bag).

Chemicals used to remove tar:

Acetone

Benzene

Kerosene

Chemicals used to remove nicotine:

Lemon juice

Sodium Hypochlorite

Chemical used to remove nail polish:

Acetone

Weight

What is the measure of the gravitational pull on an object; property of matter dependent on the position of the matter in a gravitational field?

Solution

What is the homogeneous mixture of one or more substances ( solutes) dispersed in a sufficient quantity of dissolving medium (solvent)?

Neutron

What is a neutral subatomic particle with a mass similar to that of a proton?

pH

What is the measure of hydrogen ion concentration of a solution?

Ion

What is an atomic or molecular species with a positive (cation) or negative (anion) electrical charge

Chemistry

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

Enzyme

What is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst?

Formalin

What is formaldehyde gas dissolved in water?

Amine

What is an organic compound containing nitrogen; any of a group of compounds formed from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic radicals?

Salt

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

Physical

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

Osmosis

What is the passage of pure solvent from a solution of lesser 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 is permeable to the solvent?

Viscosity

What is the resistance that a liquid exhibits to the flow of one layer over another?

Molecule

What is the smallest amount of a substance which can exist alone; an aggregation of atoms, specifically a chemical combination of two or more atoms which form a specific chemical substance?

Solute

What is the component of a solution present in a lesser amount?

Solvent

What is the component of a solution present in a greater amount?

Preservatives

What are components of embalming solutions used to inactivate the active chemical groups of proteins and amino acids?

Organic Chemistry

What is that branch of chemistry that deals with certain carbon containing compounds?

Proton

What is a subatomic particle normally found in the nucleus of an atom, has a mass number of 1, and an electrical charge of + 1?

Hypotonic

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

Surface Disinfectants/Germicides

Quaternary Amines are good?

Mass

What is the quantity of matter in an object?

Liquification

What is the conversion of a solid or gas into a liquid form?