week 3 Flashcards
preservative that contains many additives
- humectants, fragrances, water treatments, dyes, anti-coagulants, surfactants, anti-endemics
- made up of dyes, sanitizers, solvents, preservatives, anticoagulants, and surfactants
- organic chemicals (carbon + hydrogen base)
embalming fluid
how does embalming fluid work? (3)
- “fixes” tissues or cells
- it does ^ by cross linking nitrogen in proteins
- fluids denatures proteins
Organic chemical nature (4)
- contain carbon + hydrogen
- almost all bonds are covalent
- low boiling and melting points
- not necessarily water soluble
structure of carbon (3)
- 4 valence electrons
- tetravalent
- carbon-carbon bond can be single, double, or triple
can have up to four bonds associated
tetravalent
in organic chemistry, a group of atoms known to have unique characteristics
- part of a larger molecule
- allow us to classify compounds by reactivity
- chemistry of every organic molecule is determined by the functional groups it contains
functional groups
a chemical compound containing carbon and hydrogen molecules
- alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes
- foundation for most significant functional groups
hydrocarbons
functional groups (8)
- hydrocarbons
- alkanes
- isomer
- alkyl groups
- alkyl halide
- cycloalkanes
- alkenes
- alkynes
carbon chains linked by single bonds
- commonly referred to as saturated hydrocarbons
- nonpolar and relatively inert
- used as waxes, lubricants and asphalts as well as combustible fuels
alkanes
structures that have the same molecular formula but different connectivity
-straight chain vs. a branch
isomer
structure remaining when a hydrogen is removed from an alkane group
-ane is replaced with -yl
alkyl group
alkyl groups that are attached to halogen atoms
- general formula is RX
- R- any organic attachment
- X - any group 7A atom
alkyl halide
compounds that contain rings of carbon atoms
-properties similar to acyclic or open chain alkanes
cycloalkanes
hydrogen contain a triple bond between adjacent carbon atoms
- unsaturated
- commonly occur in plants and medicines
alkynes
Alcohol and phenol functional groups (6)
-chemicals used as disinfectants, humectants, and cauterizing agents are mostly made up of alcohols and phenols
- disinfectant
- humectant
- cauterizing agent
an agent, usually chemical, applied to inanimate objects/surfaces to kill most disease-causing microbial agents, excluding bacterial spores
disinfectant
chemicals that increase the capability of tissues to retain moisture
humectant
a chemical capable of drying tissues by searing
cauterizing agent
alcohol and phenol properties (3)
- alcohol
- phenol
- vehicle
an organic compound containing one or more hydroxyl (OH_) groups
alcohol
an alcohol with a hydroxyl (OH_) group attached to an aromatic ring
-polar which allows them to serve as effective vehicle for embalming fluid
phenol
liquids that serve as solvents for the components of embalming fluids and solutions
vehicle
organic compound with an open chain
-have a hydroxyl group attached to carbon chain
aliphatic alcohols
- have more than one hydroxyl group in their structure
- effective humectants
- i.e ethylene glycol
polyhydroxy alcohols
hydroxyl groups and humectant properties (3)
- affinity of the hydroxyl groups to the hydrogen bond with water is what makes alcohols good humectants
- more hydroxyl groups = more humectant capability
- these chemicals work by absorbing water from the air and other surrounding adding it to the dehydrated tissues
readily absorbing moisture
- absorbs moisture easily from surrounding
- water is intertwined with the humectant and when the humectant enters a tissue, the water does as well
hygroscopic properties
alcohol derivative formed when H on the hydroxyl group is replaced by a new alkyl group
- general structure R-O-R
- symmetrical ether- two identical alkyl groups
- mixed ether; two different alkyl groups
- highly flammable and eventually will react with oxygen in the air so not used often anymore
Ethers
aromatic hydrocarbon
Arene
unsaturated ring
- compound contain at lest one benzene ring
- term derives from the pleasant odors associated with most of these compounds
aromatic
the actual location of Benzene’s double bonds is ambiguous
- (C6H6)
- less reactive
- structually similar to alkenes but they are not actually alkenes
resonance theory
benzene
- alcohols with a hydroxyl group (–OH) attached to a aromatic ring
- benzene derivative
phenol (carbolic acid)
properties of phenol (3)
- mild acid
- easily absorbed by protein structures
- usually exist in solid form (liquids can exist too)
prep room uses for phenol (4)
- bleaching agent (because of acidity levels)
- cauterizing agent
- significant disinfectant and antiseptic
- -disinfectant
- -antiseptic ; used on living organisms
what is a carbonyl? (3)
- functional group
- contains oxygen=carbon double bond
- +2 other R groups
- similar to carbon= carbon double bond
- but differs in the way electrons are shared
- Carbon=oxygen is polar
- oxygen is more electronegative than carbon in carbonyl
- electrons favor oxygen
carbon=oxygen double bond
an organic compound containing one or more -CHO groups
- organic
- derivative of alkanes
Aldehyde
01
Aldehyde use (2)
- preservative
2. disinfectant
substances used to inhibit protein decomposition and inactivate enzymes
preservative
an agent, usually chemical, applied to inanimate/surfaces; objects to kill most disease-causing microbial agents, excluding bacterial spores
- reacts with proteins to slow putrefaction
- fixes or bridges proteins by cross linking them
- formaldehyde is the most common
aldehyde use
- reactive with other chemicals
- tendency to self-polymerize and form paraformaldehyde
- colorless
- toxic gas with an odor
- usually solvated in water so that toxic vapors are contained
formaldehyde (methanal)
HCHO
01
formaldehyde gas dissolved in water at 37% by weight and 40% by volume
- stabilized with methanol
- properties very similar to formaldehyde so they are used interchangeably
- generally stable but paraformaldehyde may eventually form
formalin (methylene glycol)
a polymer of formaldehyde
- commonly used in autopsy compounds
- hydrolized by moisture in the body which will eventually release formaldehyde gas that will reach areas the powder may not
paraformaldehyde
Advantages of formaldehyde (7)
- 100% organic (broken down by nitrogen and bacteria in soil)
- inexpensive
- bactericidal
- inhibits growth of yeasts and mold
- rapidly destroys autolytic enzymes
- rapidly acts on body proteins
- small amount required for a large amount of tissue
disadvantages of formaldehyde (8)
- rapidly coagulates blood
- converts tissue to a gray hue when mixed with blood
- can “fix” discolorations
- dehydrates tissue
- constricts capillaries
- deteriorates with age
- narrow optimal pH
- tendency to shrink/constrict body tissues causing a non-natural appearance
formaldehyde index (3)
- 0-18 low index
- 19-27 medium index
- 28-36 high index
the strength of embalming fluids indicated by the number of grams of pure formaldehyde gas dissolved in 100 ml of solution
index
- nitrogen (in form of ammoni, NH3) neutralizes formaldehyde
- product is urotropin
formaldehyde + nitrogen
the neutralization product of formaldehyde and ammonia
urotropin
an organic compound containing two aldehyde (-CHO) groups
- contains 2 aldehyde functional groups
- offer more supple tissues than formaldehyde
- derivatives of alkanes
diadehydes
can be used as a preservative but generally only used as fragrances and perfuming agents
aromatic aldehydes
- 5 carbon dialdehyde
- liquid at room temperature
- colorless
- less of an odor (when compared with HCHO)
- minimized inhalation exposure compared to HCHO
Glutaraldehyde
01
C5H8O2
- reacts with proteins over a wider pH range
- not as effective at removing water from tissues
- shrinks body tissues less, overall less astringent
- tissues are softer
glutaraldehyde compared
a class of organic compounds with the general formula R(CO)R’ formed by the oxidation of a secondary alcohol
- similar to aldehydes but alkyl groups are attached to both ends of the carbonyl functional group
- commonly used in cosmetics but don’t play a role in embalming fluid
ketone
ketone used as a cleaning and a metabolite
acetone
- an dissolve super glue, be used nail polish remover, and is used in paint thinners
- dissolves many plastics (limits its use in funeral home)
- may be used for restorative art purposes (removes excess glue, smooth wax, can clean interior of caskets, main ingredient in solutions that remove debris from decedents (dries blood, cradle cap, etc)
- only slightly toxic, no chronic health effects
acetone as a solvent
- small amounts of acetone are produced during ketosis
- this process can cause acetone to build up in the body
- some decedents with a high acetone content in their body may smell like acetone
- can indicated the presence of alcoholism or diabetes
acetone as a metabolite
chemical agents that retard the tendency of the blood to become more viscous
anticoagulant
an organic compound with the general formula RCOOR’
ester
an organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (C(=0)OH)
carboxylic acid
an ion or molecule that bind to another molecule (usually a metal)
ligand
a chemical substance that can form several bonds to a single metal ion
chelating agent
chemical that minimizes the effect of hard water
water conditioner
- contains at least one -COOH group
- weak acid that doesn’t fully dissociate in water
- polar bond in which electrons are attracted to the oxygen atom
carboxylic acid
- oxalic acid is the simplest
- completely neutralized in the presence of a strong base
- from this neutralization reaction results a dimental (sodium) oxalate
- sodium oxalate has the ability to sequester or corral calcium ions
dicarboxylic acid
- Ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid
- colorless
- water soluble
- acidic
EDTA
ethylenediaminetetracccetic acid
- edta has the ability to sequester metal ions (i.e calcium)
- metal ions remain in the solution but have little or no reactivity
- these properties make EDTA a great sequestrant and a great anticogulant
EDTA functionality
- edta is a hexadentate ligand and a chelating agent
- chelation involves formation of at least two bonds between a metal and a ligand
- currently used as an anticoagulant and a water conditioner
EDTA as a chelating agent
- formed via esterification which combines a carboxylic acid and an alcohol
- high molecular mass esters make up lipids
- low molecular mass esters make up pheromones
- fragrant properties
- present in flowers, fruits, and perfumes
characteristics of esters
- contains a phenol group (functions as an antiseptic) as well as an ester
- wintergreen scent
- masks the scent of formaldehyde
methyl salicylate
- linking oxygen molecule in the ester is replaced with sulfur
- odor similar to rotten eggs
- no role in embalming fluid but associated with decomposition odors
- important in biological functions (i.e metabolism)
thioesters
hydrocarbons containing a carbon- carbon double bond functional group
- abundant in nature
- altering double bonds create unique colors
- known as unsaturated
alkenes
