Inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry – Module 1 Review

300 question-and-answer flashcards covering key facts, definitions, toxicities, antidotes, color codes, radiopharmaceuticals, alloys, buffers, and other high-yield points from Module 1: Inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

What is the most abundant element on Earth by weight?

Oxygen (O₂)

Which element is the second-most abundant on Earth?

Silicon (Si)

What is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust?

Aluminum (Al)

Which gas is most abundant in air?

Nitrogen (N₂)

What is the approximate N₂:O₂ ratio in air?

71 % N₂ : 29 % O₂

Which noble gas is most abundant in air?

Argon (Ar)

Name two of the least abundant noble gases.

Krypton (Kr) and Xenon (Xe)

What is the principal intracellular cation?

Potassium (K⁺)

What is the principal extracellular cation?

Sodium (Na⁺)

What is the principal intracellular anion?

Hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻)

What is the principal extracellular anion?

Chloride (Cl⁻)

Which ion is the secondary intracellular cation?

Magnesium (Mg²⁺)

Which ion is the secondary extracellular cation?

Calcium (Ca²⁺)

Which ion is the secondary extracellular anion involved in buffering?

Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻)

Which buffer system is considered the most important physiologic buffer?

Bicarbonate–carbonic-acid (HCO₃⁻/H₂CO₃)

An increase in blood CO₂ produces what acid–base disorder?

Respiratory acidosis

Which drug is the DOC for metabolic acidosis?

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)

Which vitamin enhances intestinal iron absorption?

Vitamin C

What is the pharmaceutical name of CuSO₄ that aids iron utilization?

Blue vitriol

Which vitamin maximizes calcium absorption?

Vitamin D

Which vitamin enhances selenium absorption?

Vitamin E

What is the cylinder color code for nitrogen gas?

Black

What color cylinder stores NO₂ or N₂O?

Blue

What color bottle contains Mg(OH)₂ suspension?

Blue bottle

Which color cylinder is used for oxygen?

Green

What cylinder color is used for argon?

Dark green

What cylinder color designates carbon dioxide?

Grey

Which cylinder color is assigned to helium?

Brown

What color cylinder is used for hydrogen?

Red

Which cylinder color is used for acetylene?

Maroon

What cylinder color stores chlorine gas?

Yellow

How is metallic lithium commonly stored to prevent oxidation?

Under oil/petroleum

How is white (yellow) phosphorus stored?

Under water

Which USP glass type is highly resistant borosilicate?

Type I glass

Adding boron to glass has what effect?

Decreases coefficient of expansion

Which glass type is “treated soda-lime” and used for parenterals after testing?

Type II glass

Which test is used to confirm Type II glass quality?

Water-attack (surface leaching) test

Which glass type is ordinary soda-lime for dry powders?

Type III glass

Which USP glass type is not intended for parenteral use?

Type IV (NP) general soda-lime glass

The powdered-glass test is applied to which USP glass types?

Types I and III

Which element colors glass brown/amber for light resistance?

Potassium

Selenium in glass formulation produces which color?

Red

Which oxide masks the blue-green color produced by iron in glass?

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂)

What is the optical effect of adding lead to glass?

Increases refractive index

Which reagent is used for etching glass?

Hydrofluoric acid (HF)

Which electrolyte abnormality causes muscle paralysis in hypokalemia?

Low serum potassium

Tremor is a hallmark of toxicity of which mood-stabilizing metal?

Lithium

Lithium toxicity may cause which renal condition?

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

Long-term lithium therapy can produce which endocrine disorder?

Hypothyroidism

Lithium is teratogenic and produces which fetal heart defect?

Ebstein’s anomaly

Excess sodium results in which fluid/electrolyte disorder?

Hypernatremia (fluid retention)

Which electrolyte imbalance can precipitate cardiac arrest?

Hyperkalemia

What drug is used to remove excess K⁺ in hyperkalemia?

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate®)

Copper toxicity leading to bronze-like skin is called what disease?

Wilson’s disease

Which chelating agent is first-line for Wilson’s disease?

Penicillamine (Cuprimine®)

Chronic silver exposure causes what skin condition?

Argyria

Simple antidote for argyria involves precipitating silver with what?

Sodium chloride (normal saline)

Dermatitis and glossitis are signs of toxicity from which metal?

Gold (Au)

What is the antidote of choice for gold toxicity?

BAL (dimercaprol)

Tetany and seizures are clinical signs of deficiency of which cation?

Calcium (hypocalcemia)

Defective bone mineralization in children is called what?

Rickets

What is the adult counterpart of rickets?

Osteomalacia

Brittle bone disease due to defective resorption is called?

Osteoporosis

Constipation is a common symptom of which calcium disorder?

Hypercalcemia

Which chelating agent is used in acute hypercalcemia?

EDTA (forming Ca-EDTA)

Benign pneumoconiosis from barium exposure is called?

Baritosis

Which salt is given orally to precipitate ingested barium?

Magnesium sulfate (forms insoluble BaSO₄)

A scaly inflamed skin condition due to zinc deficiency is called?

Parakeratosis

Inhalation of ZnO fumes produces which acute illness?

Metal fume fever

Which household agent can neutralize mild zinc toxicity?

Sodium bicarbonate

Itai-itai (“ouch-ouch”) disease is due to toxicity of which metal?

Cadmium

What is the first antidote administered for acute cadmium poisoning?

Calcium disodium EDTA

Severe mercury poisoning in Japan was famously called?

Minamata disease

Best chemical antidote for inorganic mercury poisoning?

Sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate

Which water-soluble BAL analogue treats all mercury types?

DMSA (Succimer)

Which chelator is specifically useful for elemental mercury inhalation?

Penicillamine

BAL is effective for which type of mercury salts?

Inorganic mercuric salts

“Boiled-lobster” red skin is characteristic of poisoning by which acid?

Boric acid (H₃BO₃)

Shaver’s disease relates to inhalation of which metal dust?

Aluminum

Silicosis is lung damage from chronic inhalation of what?

Silica (SiO₂)

Lead poisoning characterized by wrist-drop is called?

Plumbism (Saturnism)

Which chelator is routinely used for lead poisoning?

Calcium disodium EDTA

Granuloma formation led to the ban of topical compounds of which metal?

Zirconium

Garlic breath and luminous vomitus are acute signs of which poisoning?

White/yellow phosphorus poisoning

Chronic mandibular necrosis in match workers is known as?

Phossy jaw

First-aid antidote for acute phosphorus poisoning?

Copper(II) sulfate

Transverse white lines on fingernails (Aldrich-Mee’s lines) signal acute poisoning by?

Arsenic

What is the classical antidote for arsenic toxicity?

BAL (dimercaprol)

Blue-black gingival lines indicate toxicity of which metal?

Bismuth

Green discoloration of the tongue is caused by toxicity of?

Vanadium

Deficiency of selenium leads to which cardiomyopathy?

Keshan disease

Pitting of dental enamel is caused by excess intake of?

Fluoride

Topical antidote for hydrofluoric acid skin exposure?

Calcium gluconate gel

Chronic psychosis known as bromism results from high intake of which halogen?

Bromine (as bromides)

Which simple salts are given to enhance renal bromide excretion?

Sodium or ammonium chloride

Simple (colloid) goiter develops from a deficiency of which element?

Iodine

Acute iodine excess causing metallic taste and salivation is termed?

Iodism

Which common kitchen substance forms a blue complex and is used as iodine antidote?

Starch solution

Parkinson-like tremors may result from chronic exposure to which metal?

Manganese

Inhaling helium can temporarily produce which comedic voice change?

Donald-duck (high-pitched) voice