Unit 2-Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Question 1

What is the definition of a drug and a medicine?

Answer 1

Drugs are substances which alter biochemical processes in the body.

Medicines are drugs that have a beneficial effect.

Question 2

How do most medicines function?

Answer 2

Most medicines work by binding to receptors and trigger chemical reactions.

Question 3

Drugs that act on receptors can be classified as agonists or antagonists.

Define an agonist.

Answer 3

An agonist mimics the active molecule and can bind to the receptor and activates the biological response.

Question 4

Drugs that act on receptors can be classified as agonists or antagonists.

Define an antagonist.

Answer 4

An antagonist blocks the active site and prevents the biological response.

Question 5

What is the definition of a pharmacophore?

Answer 5

The pharmacophore is the part of the molecule which gives the pharmacological activity.

Question 6

The drug ranitidine has proved effective in healing stomach ulcers. It binds to cells in the same way as histamine and so prevents histamine triggering the release of excess hydrochloric acid which is the cause of the ulcers.

In healing ulcers, randitidine acts as

A an agonist

B an antagonist

C a receptor

D a base

Answer 6

B. Antagonist

Question 7

Morphine, metazocene and pethidine are analgesic drugs.

Identify the pharmacaphore in these drugs.

Answer 7

Question 8

What is meant by percentage solution by mass?

Answer 8

% by mass is the mass of solute made up to 100 cm³ of solution.
1% = 1g/100 cm³

Question 9

What is meant by parts per million (ppm)?

Answer 9

The unit ppm stands for parts per million and refers to 1 mg per kg.

500 ppm = 500 mg per kg

Question 10

What is meant by percentage solution by volume?

Answer 10

% by volume is the number of cm³ of solute made up to 100 cm³ of solution
1% = 1 cm³ /100 cm³