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16. CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

1. What are antacids? Give example.

Over production of acid in the stomach causes irritation and pain. The chemicals used to reduce the
acdidity in stomach are called antacids. E.g. NaHCO3, metal hydroxides etc.
2. What are anti-histamines?
An important reason for the hyperacidity in stomach is a chemical substance called histamine. It stimulates
the secretion of pepsin and hydrochloric acid. The drugs which reduce the action of histamine are called
anti-histamines.
E.g. brompheniramine (Dimetapp), terfenadine (seldane), cimetidine, ranitidine etc.
3. Distinguish between tranquilizers and analgesics?
Tranquilizers and analgesics are neurologically active drugs.
Tranquilizers are a class of chemical compounds used for the treatment of stress, and mild or even
severe mental diseases. These relieve anxiety, stress, irritability or excitement by inducing a sense of well-
being. They are essential component of sleeping pills.
E.g. Iproniazid, phenelzine (nardil), chlordiazepoxide, meprobamate, Equanil, derivatives of
barbituric acid like veronal, amytal, nembutal, luminal and seconal.
Analgesics reduce or abolish pain without causing impairment of consciousness, mental confusion
etc. These are classified into two:
(i) Non-narcotic (non-addictive) analgesics:
These groups of drugs are antipyretics and analgesics. They give immediate relief from pain and
fever and prevent platelet coagulation. They abolish (remove) the cause of pain.
E.g. aspirin, paracetamol, novalgin etc.
(ii) Narcotic analgesics:
These are sleep inducing analgesics. They help to relieve the feeling of pain, but they do not
remove the cause of pain. E.g. morphine, heroin, codeine etc.
4. What are antibiotics? Give e.g.
Antibiotics are substances produced wholly or partially by chemical synthesis, which in low
concentrations inhibit the growth or destroys micro organisms by intervening in their metabolic processes.
The first antibiotic ‘pencillin’ was developed by Alexander Fleming from the fungus Pencillium
notatum. Other examples are Ofloxacin, Erythromycin, Aminoglycosides, Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol,
Vancomycin, Ampicillin, Amoxycillin etc.
5. Distinguish between antiseptics and disinfectants?
Antiseptics and disinfectants are the chemicals which kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms.
Antiseptics can be applied to the living tissues such as wounds, cuts, ulcers and diseased skin surfaces.
Examples are furacine, soframicine, tincture of iodine, bithional, dettol etc.
Disinfectants are applied to inanimate objects such as floors, drainage system, instruments, etc.
Some substance can act both as an antiseptic and disinfectant at different concentrations. For example
0.2% solution of phenol is an antiseptic, while its one percent solution is disinfectant. Cl2, SO2 etc. in very
low concentration are disinfectant.
6. Differentiate between antibiotics and antiseptics?
Both, antibiotics and antiseptics, are chemical substances that prevent the growth and development
of the micro-organisms, but antibiotics are effective only against bacteria while antiseptic acts against a
wide range of micro-organisms.

Chemistry in everyday life-Anil-Hsslive Page 1

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UNIT 16: CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE  Until 1970 NaHCO3 or a mixture of Mg(OH)2 and
Chemistry plays important role in raising the Al(OH)3 were used as antacid
standard of human life. In this unit we shall learn the  Excessive NaHCO3 make the stomach alkaline and
applications of chemistry in three areas namely medicines, trigger the production of more acids.
food materials and cleansing agents.  Metal hydroxides (Mg(OH)2 and Al(OH)3)are better
DRUGS AND MEDICINES antacids than NaHCO3 as they are insoluble and
Drugs are chemicals that are capable to produce a hence do not increase the pH above 7.
biological response. E.g. alcohol, nicotine, aspirin etc  Later a chemical namely histamine is discovered.
Medicines are chemicals that are used in the Histamine stimulates the secretion of pepsin and
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. In case of HCl in stomach.
medicines, the biological response is therapeutic and  Drugs such as cimetidine (Tegamet) and ranitidine
useful. (Zantac) prevent the interaction of histamine with
Chemotherapy means use of chemicals for receptors in stomach wall and result in release of
therapeutic effect. lesser acid.
Drug targets (or target molecules)- Drugs usually interact Histamine: It is a potent
with bio molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic vasodilator. I has many
acids, lipids etc. These molecules are called drug targets. functions. It is responsible for
Enzymes as drug targets: the nasal conjestion associated
 Enzyme inhibitors are drugs that inhibit the active site with common cold and allergic
of an enzyme or inhibit the catalytic activity of an response to pollen.
enzyme. Antihistamine: Antihistamines are antiallergic drugs
Receptors as drug targets: that inhibit the action of Histamine.
 Receptors are proteins that are involved in the body’s e.g ., brompheniramine (Dimetapp) and terfenadine
communication system. (Seldane) act as antihistamines
 Different receptors interact with different chemical Note:- Antiallergic drugs and antacids work on different
messengers. receptors. So antiallergic drugs do not affect the
 Antagonists are drugs that bind to a receptor and secretion of acid in stomach.
inhibit its natural function. Neurologically active drugs affect the message transfer
 Antagonists are useful when blocking of message is mechanism from nerve to receptor. These include
required. tranquilizers and analgesics.
 Agonists are drugs that bind to a receptor and activate Tranquilizers: These are drugs used for the treatment
them to produce a biological response. Agonists act like of stress and mild or even severe mental diseases.
a chemical messenger.  These are neurologically active drugs.
 Agonists mimic the natural chemical messenger and  These relieve anxiety, stress and excitement by
can be used when there is a lack of chemical inducing a sense of well-being.
messenger.  These are present in sleeping pills.
Therapeutic action of different classes of drugs Antidepressant: Drugs for reducing depression. E.g.,
1.1. Antacids Iproniazid and phenelzine
1.2. Neurologically active drugs Mild tranquilizers: Suitable for relieving tension. . E.g.,
1.2.1.Tranquilizers chlordiazepoxide and meprobamate, equanil
1.2.1.1. Antidepressants Barbiturates:
1.2.1.2. Mild tranquilizers  These are derivatives of barbituric acid.
1.2.1.3. Barbiturates  These are hypnotic (i.e.,sleep producing) agents.
1.2.2.Analgesics  E.g,. veronal, amytal, nembutal, luminal and
1.2.2.1. Narcotic (Addictive) seconal
1.2.2.2. Non narcotic (non addictive) Note:- valium and serotonin are also used as
1.3. Anti microbial tranquilizers
1.3.1.Antibiotics Analgesics: Analgesics are used to reduce or abolish pain.
1.3.1.1. Broad spectrum These include narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics.
1.3.1.2. Narrow spectrum Non narcotic analgesics: Aspirin and paracetamol belongs
1.3.1.3. Limitted spectrum to this class. These are non-addictive.
1.3.2.Antiseptics & disinfectants Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid): it is a
1.4. Antifertility drugs widely used non-narcotic analgesic
1.5. Antipyretics and antipyretic drug.
aspirin
Antacids: These are drugs used to treat hyper acidity.  Aspirin inhibits the synthesis of
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chemical prostaglandins which stimulate inflammation in On the basis of their range, antibiotics can be
the tissue and cause pain. grouped as: broad spectrum, narrow spectrum and limited
 It helps in reducing fever ( antipyretic). spectrum antibiotics.
 It helps in relieving skeletal pain such as that due to Broad spectrum: Effective against a wide range of gram
arthritis, head ache, back ache etc. positive and gram negative bacteria. E.g.,Chloramphenicol,
 It helps in preventing platelet coagulation. Amoxycillin, Ampicillin, ofloxacin etc.
 Because of its anti blood clotting action, Narrow spectrum: Effective against gram positive or gram
aspirin finds use in prevention of heart negative bacteria. E.g., Pencillin G.
attacks Limited spectrum: Effective against a single bacterium.
paracetamol is a general antipyretic Note:- Chloramphenicol, isolated in 1947, is a broad
and analgesic. Over dosage may lead to spectrum antibiotic for typhoid, dysentery, acute fever,
liver damage. certain form of urinary infections, meningitis and
Narcotic analgesics: pneumonia.
 These are addictive in nature.
 Morphine, Heroine, Codeine etc belongs to this class. Antiseptics & disinfectants: These are chemicals which kill
 In medicinal doses, they relieve pain and produce sleep. or prevent the growth of micro organisms. These are not
 These analgesics are chiefly used for the relief of ingested like antibiotics. These are used for sterilization
postoperative pain, cardiac pain and pains of terminal purposes.
cancer and in child birth. Antiseptics Disinfectants
 Morphine is obtained from opium poppy, so it is  These are applied to  These are used
referred to as opiates. living tissues such as wounds, only on inanimate (non-
Antimicrobials: Compounds that prevent the action of ulcers etc. living) objects such as
microbes. These include antibacterial agents, antiviral  Dettol®, tincture of floors, drainage etc
agents (kills virus), antifungal agents, antiparasitic agents, iodine, iodoform(for  Phenol(1%), non
antibiotics, antiseptics etc. wounds), dilute aqueous diluted Dettol® etc are
Salvarsan (arsphenamine) is a medicine developed by Paul boric acid soln (for eyes), E.gs.
Ehrlich for the treatment of syphilis. He got Nobel prize for phenol(0.02%), furacine,
medicine in 1908. It was the first successful antimicrobial agent.it soframicine etc are E.gs.
is effective against the bacteria spirochete, that causes syphilis.It Note:- Dettol® is a mixture of chloroxylenol and terpineol.
is an organoarsenic compound.(contains -As=As- bond similar to Note:-2-3% solution of iodine in alcohol is known as
azo -N=N- bond). Now replaced by pencillin tincture of iodine.
Antibiotics: These are chemicals of less toxicity used to Antifertility drugs: These are drugs used in family planning
treat infections. and birth control. These are mixture of synthetic estrogen
 Antibiotics are produced by microorganisms or by and progesterone derivatives. Estrogen and estrogen
chemical synthesis. derivatives suppress ovulation.
 Antibiotics are capable to destroy or inhibit the E.g., Norethindrone( synthetic progesterone derivative),
growth of microorganisms (pathogens). ethynylestradiol (novestrol- progesterone derivative).
 Antibiotics may be bacteriostatic(static effect on Antipyretics: These are drugs that reduce body
bacteria) or bacteriocidal(cidal effect). temperature in fever to normal body temperature. E.g.
 Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit the growth of Paracetamol, aspirin etc.
bacteria without killing them. E.g., Chloramphenicol. The two problems associated with the consumption
 Bacteriocidal antibiotics inhibit the growth of of many drugs include:
bacteria by killing them. E.g., Pencillin, Ofloxacin.  Possible side effects
Note: The first antibiotic, Pencillin (found in Pencillium  Addictive effect(i.e., continuous usage of many
fungus) was discovered by Alexander Fleming. Ampicillin drugs result in habit formation)
and Amoxycillin are synthetic modifications of penicillins. CHEMICALS IN FOOD
It is essential to test the patients for sensitivity (allergy) to penicillin before it Chemicals are added to food for:
is administered.
(i) their preservation
(ii) enhancing their appeal(i.e., to make them
attractive) and
(iii) adding nutritive value in them
Main categories of food additives are as follows:
(i) Food colours
(ii) Flavours and sweeteners
(iii) Fat emulsifiers and stabilising agents
(iv) Flour improvers - antistaling agents and bleaches
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(v) Antioxidants anionic part acts as cleansing agent. They are mostly used
(vi) Preservatives for household works and are also present in tooth pastes.
(vii) Nutritional supplements such as minerals, vitamins and Eg.
amino acids.
Sweeteners
 Natural sweeteners like sucrose (cane sugar) add to
calorie intake. Hence these are not preferred by
diabetic patients.
 Artificial sweeteners do not add to calorie intake.
Hence these are preferred by diabetic patients.
 Artificial sweeteners are many times as sweet as
sucrose. The common artificial sweeteners are:
Cationic detergents:- Cationic detergents are quarternary
 Saccharin(Ortho-sulphobenzimide)- the first popular
ammonium salts of amines with acetates, chlorides or
artificial sweetening agent which is about 550 times
bromides as anions. Their cationic part acts as cleansing
as sweet as cane sugar
agent. E.g. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide
 Aspartame-( 100 times) used in cold foods and soft
These are expensive and are mainly used in hair
drinks only, because it is unstable at cooking
conditioners.
temperature.
 Sucralose-(600 times) tri chloro derivative of sucrose,
stable at cooking temperature
 Alitame-(2000 times)
Food preservatives
These are chemicals that prevent the spoilage of food due
to microbial growth. Commonly used preservatives include:
sodium benzoate, table salt, sugar and vegetable oils.
Non ionic or neutral detergents: - These have polar groups
CLEANSING AGENTS
which can form hydrogen bonding with water. They are
These are chemicals that improve the cleansing
present in liquid dish washing detergents. E.g. Stearic acid
properties of water. These help in removal of fats, which
reacts with Polyethyleneglycol to give a non ionic
bind other materials to the fabric or skin.
detergent.
Soaps: Soaps are potassium or sodium salts of higher fatty
CH3(CH2)16COOH + HO(CH2 CH2O)n CH2 CH2OH 
acids (like palmitic acid CH3(CH2)14COOH, stearic acid
CH3(CH2)16COO (CH2 CH2O)n CH2 CH2OH +H2O
CH3(CH2)16COOH).
 Soap molecules can be represented as R-COONa or R-COOK
 Potassium soaps are soft to skin.
Bio degradable detergents have straight chain
 Soaps are not suitable for hard water. They are
hydrocarbon. E.g. Sodium lauryl sulphate, Sodiumdodecyl
suitable for soft water only benzene sulphonate.
 In hard water they get precipitated as insoluble
Non biodegradable detergents have branched chain. If the
calcium or magnesium soaps hydrocarbon part is highly branched, then bacteria cannot
E.g. 2CH3(CH2)16COONa + CaCl2  (CH3(CH2)16COO)2Ca+2NaCl degrade them easily. They accumulate in soil and in water.
 Soaps are produced by saponification. When fats They cause pollution.
(i.e., glyceryl ester of fatty acids)are heated with E.g.Sodium tetramethyloctylbenzenesulphonate
aqueous KOH or NaOH, soaps are formed. This
reaction is known as saponification. In this process *****
soap obtained remains in colloidal form. Soap is *
precipitated from the solution by adding KCl or NaCl.
Synthetic detergents:- Detergents are cleansing agents
without any soap.
 Detergents give foam even in hard water. So
detergents can be used in hard and soft water (and
even in ice cold water).
Synthetic detergents are mainly classified into three
categories namely anionic detergents, cationic detergents
and non onic or neutral detergents.
Anionic detergents: - Anionic Detergents are sodium salts
of sulphonated long chain alcohols or hydrocarbons. Their