Mariano

MarianoMarcos
MarcosState
StateUniversity
University
College
CollegeofofHealth
HealthSciences
Sciences
Pharmacy
PharmacyDepartment
Department
City
CityofofBatac
Batac2906
2906Ilocos
IlocosNorte
Norte

PCHM 121: Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis

1st Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021

Title
Chapter 7: Group Properties of Elements (Group IIIA, IIIB, IVA and IVB)
Introduction

Need to wash your clothes or put out a fire? Chances are you will
probably need a group 3 compound. Although chemical compounds that
contain group 3 elements aren't nearly as publicized or popular as things like
iron, carbon, or oxygen, what we will hopefully get after this lesson is a deeper
appreciation for this particular group of elements in the periodic table and see
how important they really are. In terms of the importance of a specific group
of elements, the elements found in group 3 of the periodic table (the third
column) would certainly rank high on the list for a lot of people. The elements
found in group 3 of the periodic table are unique to say the least, especially
boron and aluminum. Boron and aluminum are classified as metalloids, which
means they have properties of both metals and non-metals. This makes them
very versatile in terms of their uses and application to things we take for
granted on a daily basis. Boron and aluminum are definitely the most
important elements in group 3 of the periodic table. Compounds containing
these elements find a wide variety of applications in everyday life.
Group IV on the other hand consists of carbon (C), silicon (Si), Germanium
(Ge), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb). This is one of the groups in which transition from
non-metals, C and S through typical metalloid Ge, to weakly electropositive
metals, Sn and Pb can be clearly seen.

Presentation of Outcomes

Having successfully completed this lesson the student must have:

1. Connected the different elements and their use in pharmacy and medicine; and
2. Determined the different properties of elements that are pharmaceutically or
pharmacologically used in medicine or industry.

Warm-up Activity
Rebus. A rebus is a picture representation of a name, work, or phrase. Guess the “rebus”
puzzle below.

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Answer: ________________________
Central Activities

Learning Input 1 (Lecture)

Group IIIA (Boron/Aluminum Family)

Chemical Properties
1. Boron and aluminum share the common s2p1 electron configuration although
only one electron is unpaired, the three electrons behave similarly to each other,
thus the oxidation state of +3.
2. Boron tends to be more covalent than ionic, aluminum may vary from both
covalent and ionic bond.
3. Readily oxidized when heated in air.
4. The metals react readily with sulfur and the halogens.
5. Partially non-metals but mostly are metalloids (B and Al).
6. Metallic (Ga, In, Tl)

Elements
1. Boron (B
- Properties: very toxic but very useful when made into acid.
- Uses: decreases the coefficient of expansion of glass, used in vulcanizing
rubber
- Important compounds:
• Boric acid (H3BO3): aka sal sativum
o Toxicity: boiled lobster appearance
o Use: buffer in ophthalmic preparations, mild antiseptic,
tonicity adjusting agent
• Sodium Tetraborate (Na2B4O7.10H2O): aka Borax
o Use: eyewash, wet dressings for wounds, ingredient in
Dobell’s solution

2. Aluminum (Al): most abundant of all metals

- 3rd most abundant element in the earth’s crust
- Known as Ladd’s Paste
- Toxicity: Shaver’s disease; Antidote: BAL/Dimercaprol
- Gives a (+) reaction in Thenard’s Blue Test
- Pharmacologic uses: astringent, precipitate proteins, antiseptic.

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 - Important compounds:
• Aluminum chloride (AlCl3.6H2O): astringent, antiseptic, deodorant
• Alum
o NH4 salt: AlNH4(SO4)2. 12H2O
o K salt: AlK(SO4)2. 12 H2O
o Use: astringent, antiperspirant, deodorant
• Aluminum Hydroxide [Al(OH)3]: aka amphojel, cremalin gel
o Use: antacid, protectant
o Disadvantage: constipation and phosphate deficiency
• Aluminum phosphate: aka phosphagel
o Use: antacid, astringent, demulcent
o Advantage: do not interfere with PO4 absorption
• Aluminum carbonate [Al2(CO3)3]
o Use: treatment of phosphatic calculi
• Aluminum oxide (Al2O3): aka alumina
o Use: treatment of silicosis
• Aluminum subacetate
o Use: topical antiseptic and astringent
• Aluminum silicates
o Kaolin: aka china clay, white bole, native hydrated aluminum
silicate; Use: adsorbent in diarrhea
o Bentonite: aka soap clay, mineral soap, native colloidal
hydrated aluminum silicate: Use: suspending agent
o Pumice: from vulcanic origins; used as dental adhesive

3. Gallium (Ga)
- Substitute of Hg in the production of arc lamps
- Can bind to transferrin
- Pharmacologic Uses: treatment of cancer related hypercalcemia; Non-
hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder cancer, diagnostic imaging

4. Thallium (Tl)
- Syn: Green twig

Group III-B (The Scandium Subgroup)

Elements: Sc, Y, La, Ac, Lanthanides, Actinides

Chemical properties
1. All these elements from compounds with the 3+ and 2+ oxidation states.
2. All the lanthanide elements (lanthanum to lutetium) occur in mixtures which are
hard to separate due to similarity in chemical properties.
3. All actinide elements beyond Uranium are prepared synthetically and only exist as
radioactive isotopes which are usually not stable.
4. Have metallic properties, they are all quite reactive chemically and the oxides are
basic.

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Group IVA (The Carbon Family)
Chemical properties:
1. Exhibit 2+ and 4+ oxidation states
2. The oxides and hydroxides of Sn and Pb are amphoteric.
3. C and Si (nonmetals)
4. Ge (metalloid)
5. Sn and Pb (metals)

Elements
1. Carbon (C)
- Properties: only element that forms covalent bond to its form; basic building
unit of organic compounds, used as strong reducing agent in the preparation
of many metals.
- Allotropic forms:
o Crystalline: diamond (purest native form of uncombined carbon and
has high index of refraction) and graphite (soft, unctuous, black or
dark lead-colored, shiny solid)
o Amorphous: bituminous (soft coal; 70% C) and anthracite (hard coa;
90% C)
- Important compounds:
o Activated charcoal: component of “Universal antidote”; used as
adsorbent (remove toxic substance)
o Carbon dioxide (CO2): used as treatment of acne, warts, corns,
calluses and eczema; most effective respiratory stimulant.
o Carbonate (CO3): used as antacid and pharmaceutical aid for
effervescent tablet
o Carbon monoxide (CO): affinity of hemoglobin is 210x greater to CO
than oxygen leading to asphyxia then death; treatment includes 100%
oxygen, artificial air (He 80%, O2 20%) and hyperbaric oxygen

2. Silicon (Si)
- Found everywhere on the earth’s crust but never exists in the free state.
- 2nd most abundant element
- Toxicity: Silicosis
- Important compounds:
o Silicon dioxide
o Glass (Na2CO3 + pure silica)
o Kaolin
o Bentonite
o Talc
o Attapulgite: aka hydrated magnesium-aluminum silicate; used as
adsorbent
o Asbestos
o Simethicone: polymeric dimethyl siloxane; used as antifoaming
agent, antiflatulent.

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 3. Tin/Stannum (Sn)
- Occurs chiefly as the oxide SnO2
- Alloys:
o Babbit Metal- 80% Sn + 20% Pb
o Solder’s Metal- 50% Sn + 50% Pb
o Plumber’s Metal- 33% Sn + 67% Pb
o Rose metal- 25% Sn + 25% Pb + 50% Bi
o Gun metal- 10% Sn + 90% Cu
o Pewter- 80% Sn + 20% Pb
- Use: germicidal effect against staphylococci, treatment of acne, furunculosis

4. Lead/Plumbum (Pb)
- Occurs mainly as sulfide, PbS called galena
- Pharmacologic use: astringent, protein precipitant
- Toxicity: plumbism; Antidote: Dimercaprol, EDTA, Succimer
- Sources of Poisoning: lead batteries, lead pipes
- Important compounds:
o Lead acetate [Pb(C2H3CO2)2. 3H2O: aka sugar of lead; used as
astringent
o Lead subacetate [Pb2O(CH3COO)2]: aka Goulard’s extract; used as
astringent, antiseptic, and in making Goulard’s cerate
o Lead oxide: aka litharge; used in the production of lead salts and
heavy duty batteries

Group IVB (The Titanium Subgroup: Ti, Zr, Hf)

Chemical properties:
1. They form compounds with oxidation states 2+, 3+ and 4+. The 4+ oxidation state
is the most common, the 2+ compounds are good reducing agents.
2. Titanium can be identified by the red color produced by hydrogen peroxide in
acid solution

Elements
1. Titanium (Ti): aka titan, sons of the earth
- 9th most abundant element
- Uses: alloying agent with aluminum, molybdenum, manganese and iron,
alloys of Ti are used for aircraft and missiles, TiO2 is used as solar ray
protectant

2. Zirconium (Zr)
- The word comes from the Persian word “zargon” meaning gold-like
- Uses: nuclear energy application, surgical instruments, steel alloys as
hardening agent, used to make superconductive magnets and components
of antiperspirants and deodorants.
- Banned due to incidences of granuloma formation

3. Hafnium (Hf)
- From latin “hafnia” meaning Copenhagen

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 - it is lustrous, silvery, ductile metal
- chemically similar to Zr.
- Uses: photographic flash bulbs, light bulb filament

Activity 1
• Read journals and find out if there are recent discoveries on the
pharmaceutical/medicinal uses of elements under Group III and IV.

Learning Input 2 (Laboratory)

Overview
• Cations are typically divided into groups, where each group shares a common
reagent that can be used for selective precipitation. Group III cations form
insoluble sulfides or hydroxides in a basic solution saturated with H2S. Qualitative
analysis of ions in a given group are separated from each other, and then a
characteristic test is performed for each ion in order to confirm the presence of
that ion.

Activity 2
• Access a video demonstration on the Analysis of Group III cations in the following
link: https://youtu.be/RDdKIyuZo08 and https://youtu.be/NaG5CqKqWrk

Wrap-Up Activity

1. Discussion Forum (Open-ended questions)

• You are expected to participate in the discussion forum scheduled on October
12, 2020 (unless otherwise rescheduled), Monday via the mVLE
BIGBlueButtonBN or Zoom.
• An invitation link will be available in the mVLE course site.
• Open-ended questions will be asked randomly among students during the
discussion proper.
• In addition, students are also given opportunity to ask/raise any question or
make clarifications during the discussion.

Assessment (Post-Assessment)

Problem-Based Learning Task 7

Assignment
• A detailed instruction will be available in the mVLE course page assignment portal
on October 6, 2020, 1:00 PM.
• Submit your output on or before 11:59 pm, October 11, 2020 (Sunday) via the same
portal in mVLE.

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Laboratory-Based Learning Task 6
• A detailed instruction will be available on October 6, 2020, 1:00 PM. Submit your
laboratory report on or before 11:59 pm, October 11, 2020 via the assignment part
in mVLE.

Online Exam 5
• You are required to take the Post-Test on the topic learned.
• The link will be posted on October 5, 2020 (Monday) after the discussion forum in
the mVLE Quiz Portal.
• Accomplish and submit the said exam on or before 11:59 PM on the same date.
Course Facilitator

Kristian Gay D. Beltran

Assistant Professor II
Pharmacy Department
kdbeltran@mmsu.edu.ph