Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry 1

Question 1

List 3 current clinical uses of medicinal inorganic chemistry

Answer 1

Anticancer agent
Diagnostic agents
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Question 2

Define: A metal

Answer 2

A solid whose electrical conductivity decreases with increasing temperature

Question 3

List 4 physical properties of chemicals

Answer 3

Hard
Shiny
Conductive
Precious

Question 4

Define: Metalloids/Semi-metals

Answer 4

An element that exhibits some metallic characteristics together with some non-metallic characteristics

Question 5

Why should metal-based drugs be used?

Answer 5

Metal ions can interact with biomolecules in a unique way

Question 6

Name 4 behaviours that metal ions can exhibit when interacting with biomolecules

Answer 6

Co-ordination behaviour
Redox behaviour
Magnetic moments
Radioactivity

Question 7

How is the radioactive property of metal ions useful for clinical purposes?

Answer 7

Can be used to make radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and therapy

Question 8

How is the magnetic property of metal ions useful for clinical purposes?

Answer 8

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Question 9

How is the co-ordination behaviour of metallic ions useful for clinical purposes?

Answer 9

DNA deformation - change or impair DNA function

Metallic ions can co-ordinate biomolecules

Question 10

How is the redox behaviour of metallic ions useful for clinical purposes?

Answer 10

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Question 11

What does the Bertrand diagram show?

Answer 11

Metal concentration x Physiological response
Every metal has a response curve
Areas of optimal response (beneficial), deficiency and toxic effects

Question 12

Are all metals toxic?

Answer 12

Yes, but it depends on their concentration - they can also be beneficial

Question 13

List 3 factors which the toxicity of metals is dependent on

Answer 13

Mode of action
Concentration
Essential/non-essential element (to the human body)

Question 14

Why does the human need metal ions?

Answer 14

Catalysing reactions - via hydrolysis, substrate transfer
Stabilising structure - protein, DNA, skeletal
Charge balancing - osmotic balance, nerve function
Replication and information encoding

Question 15

Name 4 inorganic elements which are biologically important

Answer 15

Sodium
Magnesium
Potassium
Calcium

Question 16

What is a symptom of calcium deficiency?

Answer 16

Retarded skeletal growth

Question 17

What is a symptom of magnesium deficiency?

Answer 17

Muscle cramps

Question 18

What is a symptom of iron deficiency?

Answer 18

Anaemia, immune disorders

Question 19

What is an atom?

Answer 19

The smallest unit of mass that defines the chemical element

Question 20

Describe the structure of an atom

Answer 20

Composed of a nucleus made of 1 or more protons and usually an equal or similar number of neutrons
All of which is surrounded by electrons

Question 21

What is the Bohr model of the atom?

Answer 21

Shows the core (nucleus) and the electrons surrounding it

2D

Question 22

What does the wave model of the atom show?

Answer 22

Atomic orbitals (s2, p6)
Every electron follows a certain pattern around the nucleus

Question 23

What does ^A (Z) E represent?

Answer 23

E = element symbol
A = number of protons + neutrons = mass number
Z = number of protons = number of electrons = atomic number

Question 24

What differs between an element and its various isotopes?

Answer 24

Differ in number of neutrons

Question 25

How do orbitals differ?

Answer 25

Orbitals differ in their energy levels
p higher than s
1s(2) - 2s(2) - 2p(6) - 3s(2) - 3p(6) - 3d(10)

Question 26

How many electrons can each orbital hold?

Answer 26

s = 2
p = 6 (3 orbitals of 2)
d = 10 (5 orbitals of 2)

Question 27

List 3 types of bond

Answer 27

Covalent = sharing a pair of electrons
Ionic = between positive and negative ions
Metallic = sea of electrons surrounding positively charged atomic nuclei of the interacting metal ions