Thanatochemistry vocab Flashcards
1
Q
accessory chemicals
A
any chemical used in the preparation of human remains that is not injected into the arterial system or cavities
2
Q
acids
A
substances that yield hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution
3
Q
adipocere (grave wax)
A
a wax like material produced by saponification of body fat
4
Q
alcohols
A
an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups
5
Q
aldehyde
A
an organic compound containing one or more -CHO groups
6
Q
amides
A
derivatives of carboxylic acids in which a hydroxyl group is substituted with an amine or ammonia having the general formula of R-COHN-R
7
Q
amines
A
an organic compound containing nitrogen with the general formula of R-NH2
8
Q
amino acid
A
the building blocks of proteins that contain amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group
9
Q
amphoterism
A
any compound that can act as both an acid and a base in an aqueous solution
10
Q
anticoagulants
A
chemical agents that retard the tendency of the blood to become more viscous
11
Q
arterial fluid
A
concentrated preservative chemicals used primarily for arterial embalming
12
Q
arterial solution
A
a mixture of arterial fluid and water used for arterial injection with the possible inclusions of supplemental fluids
13
Q
atom
A
the smallest particle of an element that has all properties of the element
14
Q
autolysis
A
self digestion or self destruction of the body by enzymes
15
Q
bases
A
substances that yield hydroxide ions in an aqueous solution
16
Q
biochemistry
A
that branch of chemistry dealing with compounds produced by living organisms
17
Q
boiling
A
conversion of a liquid into a vapor state through the action of heat
18
Q
bond
A
an attractive force that holds together the atoms, ions, or groups of atoms in a molecule or crystal
19
Q
buffers
A
substances capable of maintaining a constant pH by. neutralizing both acids and bases
20
Q
carbohydrates
A
a compound of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen that is an aldehyde or ketone derivative of polyhydroxyl alcohol
21
Q
carboxylic acid (aka phenol)
A
an organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (C(=O)OH)
22
Q
cavity fluid
A
concentrated preservative chemicals used in cavity embalming
23
Q
chemical change
A
a change that results in the formation of a new chemical substance
24
Q
chemical properties
A
characteristics of a substance observed during or after a chemical reaction
25
chemistry
the study of matter and the changes it undergoes
26
coagulation
the process of converting soluble protein to insoluble protein by physical or chemical means
27
colloid
a solute that can pass through filters but not membranes
28
combustion
rapid oxidation that produces heat and light
29
compound
a substance consisting of 2 or more elements combined chemically in definite proportions by mass
30
concentrated solution
a solution containing a relatively large amount of solute
31
concentration
the ratio of a solute to the solution or solvent
32
condensation
a change of state of matter from a gas to a liquid
33
covalent
a chemical bond formed between 2 atoms by the sharing of electrons
34
crystalloid
a solute that can pass through a membrane
35
decay
the gradual decomposition of dead organic matter by the enzymes of aerobic bacteria
36
dehydration
the removal of water from a substance
37
denaturation
the disruption and breakdown of a protein by heat or chemicals
38
desiccation
a complete or nearly complete deprivation of moisture
39
dialdehyde
an organic compound containing 2 aldehydes (-CHO) groups
40
diffusion
the movement of molecules or other particles in solution from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration until the uniform concentration is reached
41
dilute solution
a solution containing a relatively small amount of solute
42
disinfectant
an agent, usually chemical, applied to inanimate/surface objects to kill most disease causing microbial agents, excluding bacterial spores
43
dye
natural or synthetic compounds that are used to impart color to another material
44
elements
simple substances which cannot be decomposed by ordinary chemical means
45
embalming chemistry
the study of those types of matter and changes in matter related to the disinfection, preservation, and restoration of human remains
46
enzyme
a protein that acts as a biological catalyst
47
ester
an organic compound with the general formula RCOOR
48
fats
a combination of saturated fatty acids and glycerol that is semisolid at room temperature
49
fermentation
the microbial decomposition of carbohydrates under anaerobic conditions
50
formalin
formaldehyde gas dissolved in water at 37% by weight and 40% by volume
51
formula
a symbolic expression of the chemical composition or constitution of a substance
52
freezing
a change of state of matter from a liquid to a solid by the loss of heat
53
gases
a state of matter that has no definite shape or volume
54
the hardness of water
the condition of water that results from dissolved minerals and metallic ions
55
humectants
chemicals that increase the capability of tissues to retain moisture
56
hydrate
a compound in which there is a union between water and certain substances when they crystallize
57
hydrolysis
a chemical reaction in which a substance is broken down or dissociated by water
58
hydrogen bond
a non chemical bond that creates surface tension
59
hypertonic solution
a solution having a greater concentration of dissolved solute than the solution to which it is compared
60
hypotonic solution
a solution having a lesser concentration of dissolved solute than the solution to which it is compared
61
imbibition
the swelling and softening of tissues and organs as a result of absorbing moisture from adjacent sources
62
index
the strength of embalming fluids indicated by the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 ml of solution
63
inorganic chemistry
that branch of chemistry that studies the properties and reactions of elements, excluding organic or certain carbon containing compounds
64
ion
an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative electrical charge
65
ionic
a chemical bond formed between oppositely charged atoms
66
isotonic solution
a solution having an equal concentration of dissolved solute as the solution to which it is compared
67
ketone
a class of organic compounds with the general formula R(CO)R formed by the oxidation of a secondary alcohol
68
liquid
a state of matter having a definite volume but no definite shape
69
matter
anything that has mass and occupies space
70
melting
a change of state of matter from a solid to a liquid by the addition of heat
71
metal
an element marked by luster, malleability, ductility, and conductivity of electricity and heat
72
mixture
a combination of 2 or more substances not chemically united and that exist in no fixed proportion to each other
73
minimum lethal dose (MLD)
the smallest dose of a poison that produces death
74
modifying agent
chemicals incorporated into commercial preservative fluids to meet the varying demands of embalming procedures
75
molecule
a group of 2 or more atoms joined by chemical bonds
76
neutralization
the reaction of an acid and a base to produce salt and water
77
nonmetal
any element that is generally dull in appearance, has a low density, has a low melting point, and is not a good conductor of heat or electricity
78
oils
a combination of unsaturated fatty acids and glycerol that is a liquid at room temperature
79
organic chemistry
that branch of chemistry that deals with certain carbon containing compounds
80
osmosis
the passage of a solvent from an area of lesser concentration to an area of greater concentration through a semi permeable membrane
81
oxide
a compound consisting of oxygen combined with only 1 other element
82
parts per million (PPM)
a method of expressing low concentrations; 1 ppm is equivalent to milligrams per liter
83
peptide bond
a bond formed from a dehydration reaction between the amino group on one amino acid with the carboxyl group on another amino acid
84
periodic table
a tabular arrangement of the elements, ordered by their atomic number, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties
85
pH
the measure of hydrogen ion concentration of a solution
86
physical change
a change in the form or state of matter without any change in chemical composition
87
physical properties
characteristics of a substance that are observed or measured without a change in chemical composition
88
poison
a substance capable of causing illness or death to an organism
89
polymerization
a chemical reaction in which 2 or more molecules combine to form larger molecules that contain repeating structural units
90
pre injection / capillary wash
the introduction of a non preservative solution to prepare the vascular system before the injection of the preservative solution
91
pre injection fluid
fluids designed to clear the vascular system of blood and enable the arterial solution to distribute more effectively
92
preservative
substances used to inhibit protein decomposition and inactivate enzymes
93
preservative demand
the amount of preservative necessary to properly embalm human remains
94
protein
a biological component that is a polymer of many amino acids
95
96
perfuming agent (masking agent)
chemicals having the capability of altering an unpleasant odor
96
putrefaction
the decomposition of proteins by the enzymatic activity of anaerobic bacteria
97
quaternary ammonium compound
surface disinfectants that are generally used for disinfection of skin, oral and nasal cavities, as well as instruments
98
saponification
the hydrolysis of a fat and a strong base to produce glycerol and a salt of a fatty acid
98
salt
any group of substances that result from the reaction between acids and bases other than water
99
saturated solution
a solution containing the maximum amount of solute a solvent is able to hold at a certain temperature and pressure
100
solid
a state of matter having a definite shape and volume
101
solubility
the measure of how well a solute mixes with a solvent
102
solute
a substance dissolved in a solvent to form a solution
103
solution
a homogeneous mixture of one or more solutes dissolved in a sufficient quantity of solvent
104
solvent
a substance that dissolves a solute in a solution
105
states of matter
a physical property of matter (solid, liquid, or gas)
106
sublimation
a physical change of state during which a substance changes directly from a solid to a gas
107
supplemental fluid
fluids injected for purposes other than preservation and disinfection that will enhance the actions of the arterial solution
108
substrate
the material upon which an enzyme acts
109
surface tension
the molecular cohesion at the surface of a liquid forming a membrane like layer
110
surfactants (surface tension reducer / wetting agent / penetrating agent)
chemicals that will reduce the molecular cohesion of a liquid and thereby enable it to flow through small openings
111
suspension
a solute that will not pass through filters or membranes
112
thanatochemistry
the study of those physical and chemical changes in the human body that are caused by the process of death
113
thiol (mercaptan)
an organic compound containing the group -SH
114
toxin
a poisonous substance that is organic in nature
115
unsaturated solution
a solution containing less than the maximum amount of solute a solvent is able to hold at a certain temperature and pressure
116
urotropin
the neutralization product of formaldehyde and ammonia
117
vehicle
liquids that serve as solvents for the components of embalming fluids and solutions
118
viscosity
the measure of resistance to the flow of a liquid
119
wax
a type of liquid formed from the combination of unsaturated and/or saturated fatty acids and high molecular weight alcohols
