Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry 4

Question 1

Name 4 alkaline earth metals

Answer 1

Beryllium - chronic beryllium disease
Magnesium - lithium competitor
Calcium - key to many human function
Barium - rat poison

Question 2

Where are alkaline earth metals found in the periodic table?

Answer 2

Group (column) 2

s-block metals

Question 3

Describe the atomic structure of alkaline earth metals

Answer 3

Only have 2 electrons in their outer shell

Outer electron of an s-orbital type

Question 4

Describe how alkaline earth metals act

Answer 4

Low ionisation energy - formation of a cation, M(+2)

Question 5

Which alkaline earth metal has the greatest atomic and ionic radii?

Answer 5

Radium

Question 6

Which alkaline earth metal has the greatest 1st ionisation energy?

Answer 6

Beryllium

Question 7

Which alkaline earth metal has the greatest melting and boiling points?

Answer 7

Beryllium

Question 8

Which alkaline earth metal has the lowest melting and boiling points?

Answer 8

Radium

Question 9

Which form of magnesium is most soluble in water?

Answer 9

Magnesium salts

Question 10

What is milk of magnesia?

Answer 10

Suspension of Mg(OH)2
Mild base
Commonly used as an antacid

Question 11

Name 3 roles of magnesium in the body

Answer 11

Co-factor in enzymatic processes
Signalling
Nucleic acid biochemistry - manipulation of ATP, DNA, RNA etc

Question 12

How does kidney failure affect the concentration of magnesium in the body?

Answer 12

Magnesium is excreted by the kidneys
Therefore kidney failure = hypermagnesaemia
Which leads to muscle weakness and arrhythmias

Question 13

What can hypomagnesaemia be caused by?

Answer 13

GI tract losses
Alcoholism
Drugs
Often followed by hypocalcaemia and hypokalaemia

Question 14

Name 2 roles of calcium in the body

Answer 14

Universal role as messenger

Mediates cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle contraction

Question 15

What is hydroxylapatite?

Answer 15

Mineral, a naturally occurring form of calcium apatite
Can be found within human teeth and bones
Therefore can be used as a filler to replace amputated bone or as a coating to promote bone ingrowth into prosthetic implants

Question 16

What is calcium’s role in bone?

Answer 16

Preserves structural integrity

Acts as a reservoir

Question 17

Where is calcium found in the extracellular space?

Answer 17

Plasma
Lymph
Extracellular water etc

Question 18

Where is calcium balance regulated?

Answer 18

It is regulated through the gut, skeleton and kidneys

Question 19

How is calcium regulated?

Answer 19

Regulated by:
Hormones directly related to calcium e.g. PTH = calciotropic
Hormones not regulated by calcium level e.g. sexual hormones growth factors = non-calciotropic hormones

Question 20

What is a calciotropic hormone?

Answer 20

One that regulates calcium levels in the blood and bone

Question 21

Name 2 adverse effects of high intake of calcium

Answer 21

Constipation

Bloating

Question 22

What is a barium meal?

Answer 22

A BaSO4 suspension
Given to patient orally
Allows x-ray imaging of oesophagus, stomach and untestines

Question 23

How does a barium meal allow the use of x-ray imaging of the GI tract?

Answer 23

Heavy barium ions absorb x-rays readily

So structures become visible

Question 24

Define: Hygroscopy

Answer 24

The ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from its surrounding