Inorganic Compounds Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering the definitions, clinical values, and chemical processes related to inorganic and organic compounds as presented in the lecture notes.

Inorganic compound

A substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen, and often possesses ionic bonds; an example is $CO_2$.

Organic compound

A substance that contains both carbon and hydrogen and is characterized by covalent bonds.

Water

A substance making up approximately $70\%$ of body weight that serves as a lubricant, cushion, heat sink, and solvent for the body's chemical reactions.

Intracellular fluid

Fluid found inside the cells.

Extracellular fluid

Fluid found outside the cells.

Sodium ($Na^+$) normal range

$139-145\,mEq/L$ in the blood.

Potassium ($K^+$) normal range

$3.5-5.0\,mEq/L$ in the blood.

Chloride ($Cl^-$) normal range

$98-106\,mEq/L$ in the blood.

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) normal range

$9-10.5\,mg/dL$ in the blood.

Phosphorous ($P$) normal range

$2.5-4.5\,mg/dL$ in the blood.

Magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$) normal range

$1.3-2.1\,mg/dL$ in the blood.

Fasting blood glucose

A clinical measure with a normal value of less than $100\,mg/dL$.

Glycosylated hemoglobin ($HbA1c$)

A clinical laboratory measure with a normal range of $5-7\%$.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction where one reactant gives up an atom of hydrogen and another gives up a hydroxyl group ($OH$), forming a covalent bond and releasing a molecule of water as a byproduct; also called a condensation reaction.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction where a molecule of water disrupts a compound, breaking its bonds and splitting the water itself into $H$ and $OH$.

Salts

Substances that, when dissolved in water, dissociate into ions other than $H^+$ or $OH^-$, such as when $NaCl$ dissociates into $Na^+$ cations and $Cl^-$ anions.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in solution.

Base

A substance that releases hydroxyl ions ($OH^-$) in solution, or one that accepts $H^+$ already present in solution.

pH

The negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion ($H^+$) concentration of a solution.

Human blood pH range

The normal range maintained by homeostatic regulation is between $7.35$ and $7.45$.

Buffer

A solution consisting of a weak acid and its conjugate base that can neutralize small amounts of acids or bases in body fluids.