Thanatochemistry Glossary

From Science NBE Manual

Accessory chemicals

Any chemical used in the preparation of human remains that is not injected into the arterial system/cavities

Acids

Substances that yield hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution

Adipocere (grave wax)

A wax-like material produced by saponification of body fat

Alcohols

An organic compound containing 1+ hydroxyl (-OH) groups

Aldehyde

An organic compound containing 1+ -CHO groups

Amides

Derivatives of carboxylic acids in which a hydroxyl group is substituted w/ an amine/ammonia having the general formula of R-CONH-R’

Amines

An organic compound containing nitrogen w/ the general formula of R-NH2

Amino acid

The building blocks of proteins that contain an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group

Amphoterism

Any compound that can act as both an acid and a base in an aqueous solution

Anticoagulants

Chemical agents that slow the tendency of the blood to become more viscous

Arterial fluid

Concentrated preservative chemicals used primarily for arterial embalming

Arterial solution

A mixture of arterial fluid and water used for arterial injection w/ the possible inclusion of supplemental fluids

Atom

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

Autolysis

Self-digestion/self-destruction of the body by enzymes

Bases

Substances that yield hydroxide ions in an aqueous solution

Biochemistry

That branch of chemistry dealing w/ compounds produced by living organisms

Boiling

Conversion of a liquid into a vapor state through the action of heat

Bond

An attractive force that holds together the atoms, ions, or groups of atoms in a molecule/crystal

Buffers

Substances capable of maintaining a constant pH by neutralizing both acids and bases

Carbohydrates

A compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen that’s an aldehyde/ketone derivative of polyhydroxyl alcohol

Carboxylic acid (Phenol)

An organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (C(=O)OH)

Cavity fluid

Concentrated preservative chemicals used in cavity embalming

Chemical change

A change that results in the formation of a new chemical substance(s)

Chemical properties

Characteristics of a substance observed during/after a chemical reaction

Chemistry

The study of matter and the changes it undergoes

Coagulation

The process of converting soluble protein to insoluble protein by physical/chemical means

Colloid

A solute that can pass through filters, but not membranes

Combustion

Rapid oxidation that produces heat and light

Compound

A substance consisting of 2+ elements combined chemically in definite proportions by mass

Concentrated solution

A solution containing a relatively large amount of solute

Concentration

The ratio of a solute to the solution/solvent

Condensation

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

Covalent

A chemical bond formed between 2 atoms by the sharing of electrons

Crystalloid

A solute that can pass through a membrane

Decay

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

Dehydration

The removal of water from a substance

Denaturation

The disruption and breakdown of a protein by heat/chemicals

Desiccation

A complete/nearly complete deprivation of moisture

Diadehyde

An organic compound containing 2 aldehydes (-CHO) groups

Diffusion

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

Dilute solution

A solution containing a relatively small amount of solute

Disinfectant

An agent, usually chemical, applied to inanimate surfaces/objects to kill most disease-causing microbial agents, excluding bacterial spores

Dye

Natural/synthetic compounds that are used to impart color to another material

Elements

Simple substances which cannot be decomposed by ordinary chemical means

Embalming chemistry

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

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst

Ester

An organic compound w/ the general formula RCOOR’

Fats

A combination of saturated fatty acids and glycerol that is semisolid at room temp.

Fermentation

The microbial decomposition of carbohydrates under anaerobic conditions

Formalin

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

Formula

A symbolic expression of the chemical composition/constitution of a substance

Freezing

A change of state of matter from a liquid to a solid by the loss of heat

Gases

A state of matter that has no definite shape/volume

The hardness of water

The condition of water that results from dissolved minerals and metallic ions

Humectants

Chemicals that increase the capability of tissues to retain moisture

Hydrate

A compound in which there’s a union between water and certain substances when they crystallize

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction in which a substance is broken down/dissociated by water

Hydrogen bond

A non-chemical bond that creates surface tension

Hypertonic solution

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

Hypotonic solution

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

Imbibition

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

Index

The strength of embalming fluids indicated by the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 mL of solution

Inorganic chemistry

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

Ion

An atom/group of atoms w/ a positive/negative electrical charge

Ionic

A chemical bond formed between oppositely charged atoms

Isotonic solution

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

Ketone

A class of organic compounds w/ the general formula R(CO)R’ formed by the oxidation of a secondary alcohol

Liquid

A state of matter having a definite volume, but no definite shape

Matter

Anything that has mass and occupies space

Melting

A change of state of matter from a solid to a liquid by the addition of heat

Metal

An element marked by luster, malleability, ductility, and conductivity of electricity and heat

Mixture

A combination of 2+ substances not chemically united and that exist in no fixed proportion to each other

Minimum lethal dose (MLD)

The smallest dose of a poison that produces death

Modifying agent

Chemicals incorporated into commercial preservative fluids to meet the varying demands of embalming procedures

Molecule

A group to 2+ atoms joined by chemical bonds

Neutralization

The reaction of an acid and a base to produce salt and water

Nonmetal

Any element that is generally dull in appearance, has a low density, has a low melting point, and isn’t a good conductor of heat/electricity

Oils

A combination of unsaturated fatty acids and glycerol that’s liquid at room temp.

Organic chemistry

That branch of chemistry that deals w/ certain carbon-containing compounds

Osmosis

The passage of a solvent from an area of lesser concentration to an area of greater concentration through a semi-permeable membrane

Oxide

A compound consisting of oxygen combined w/ only 1 other element

Parts per million (ppm)

A method of expressing low concentrations; 1 ppm is equivalent to milligrams per liter

Peptide bond

A bond formed from a dehydration reaction between the amino group on 1 amino acid w/ the carboxyl group on another amino acid

Periodic table

A tabular arrangement of the elements, ordered by their atomic number, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties

pH

The measure of hydrogen ion concentration of a solution

Physical change

A change in the form/state of matter w/out any change in chemical composition

Physical properties

Characteristics of a substance that are observed/measured w/out a change in chemical composition

Poison

A substance capable of causing illness/death to an organism

Polymerization

A chemical reaction in which 2+ molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units

Pre-injection/capillary wash

The introduction of a non-preservative solution to prepare the vascular system before the injection of the preservative solution

Pre-injection fluid

Fluids designed to clear the vascular system of blood and enable the arterial solution to distribute more effectively

Preservative

Substances used to inhibit protein decomposition and inactive enzymes

Preservative demand

The amount of preservative necessary to properly embalm human remains

Protein

A biological component that’s a polymer of many amino acids

Perfuming agent (masking agent)