[ CHEMISTRY IN EVERYDAY LIFE ]

NCERT 12TH STD

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Introduction
Chemistry - ubiquitous in every part of our lives:
Cleanliness - soap, detergents , tooth pastes.
Clothes - synthetic fibres, colours by chemicals.
Food - made up of org/inorg chemicals.
Medicines - chemicals
Explosives, fuels, rocket propellants, building & electronic material, human beings themselves
and their control by various chemicals.
Drugs and their clarification
Drugs - chemicals of low molecular masses (~ 100 - 500 u)
produce
- interact with macro molecular targets
biological response.

higher dose
if
therapeutic & useful

potential poisons

called
medicines.
used in
diagnosis / prevention / treatment of diseases.
(Chemotherapy).
Classification Basis

Pharmacological
effect
for treatment of
various types of
problems

Drug Action

Chemical structure

action of a drug
on a particular
biochemical process.

drugs with similar

chemical structure
are grouped - often
have similar p.effect

Molecular targets
drugs targetting the
same class of targets
(Eg. (CH, lipids, proteins,
nucleic acids))

Eg. Analgesic: pain killers Eg. Histamine

Antiseptic: kill / arrest Eg. Sulphonamides have generally shown
causes
growth of organisms.
common structure:
by drugs possessing
inflammation
some common
in body
structural features.
Antihistamines-inhibit
their action.

Drug - target interaction

perfom
Macromolecules (MM) of biological origin
various functions in body..

Eg. Proteins - biological catalysts - enzymes.

- crucial to communication system - receptors.
- carry polar molecules across membranes - Carrier proteins
Nucleic Acids

- coded genetic information of the cell.

lipids and CH

- structural parts of cell membrane.

Enzyme as drug targets

(a)

Catalytic action of enzymes

(b)

enzymes are selective catalysts. i.e. they catalyse rxn only of a specific shape of reagents:

Here, as can be seen - the enzyme holds the substracts in a suitable position - can be
attacked by reagent now. (the binding is achieved by - IB, HB, Vdw F or dipole-dipole
interaction).

The enzyme - may provide FGs - that attack the substrate for a chem. rxn.

Drug - enzyme interaction

Drugs inhibit activities of enzyme - by blocking the binding site or inhibiting the catalytic
activity of enzyme - called enzyme inhibitors.

2 ways:

Competitive inhibitors: They have same shape as substrate and compete with it to block
the enzyme:

( Shorthand Notation : w/ means with ; w/o means without ; wh/ means which )
2

Attacking allosteric site: Some drugs attack a site (allosteric site) other than the active
site - forming bond with enzyme - rendering the enzyme to change shape of active site - and
so, substrate cant recognise it - and enzyme is blocked (esp. if covalent bond is formed w/
drug wh/ cant be broken easily). - in such cases, body degrades this enzyme - inhibitor
complex and synthesises a new enzyme.

Non-competitive inhibitor changes the active site of enzyme after binding at allosteric site.
Receptors as drug targets

Receptors: proteins crucial to bodys communication process - embedded in cell

membranes as shown below:

a small part of RP (receptor proteins) - projects out of the surface of the membrane and
opens on the outside region.

In body:

communication by
neurons
chemical messengers

neurons

neurons

muscles

received at binding sites of RP - shape of RP changes as CM is received - this transfers the

message into the cell (so, msg conveyed by CM w/o entering the cell).

Different RP - interact - different CM - show selectivity due to different shape, structure

and amino acid composition.

Antagonists: drugs that bind to RP - inhibit its natural function (used when blocking of
msg is required).

Agonists: mimic the natural messenger by switching on the receptor (used when there is a
lack of natural messenger).

Therapeutic Action of Different Classes of Drugs

Antacids: NaHCO3 (or) Al(OH)3 /Mg(OH)2 - react with excess acid produced in stomach
(wh/ if unchecked - develop into ulcers) - but excess HCO3 makes the stomach alkaline can trigger production of even more acid. But M(OH) x - insoluble - dont increase pH
above neutrality - So, better.

Control only symptoms - not good in treatment - and in advance stages when ulcers become
life threatening - only treatment is operating and removing affected part of the stomach.

Anti histamines (AHM): Histamines (HM) - stimulate secretion of pepsin and HCl - in
stomach - by interacting with receptors present in stomach wall.
Some drugs - prevent interaction of HM w/ RP lesser secretion of acid.
Egs: Cimetidine (Tegamet) and ranitidine (Zantac):

So, these are AHM that act as antacids.

Vasodilator - relaxes muscles like in the walls of blood vessels - contracts smooth muscles in
bronchi and gut. HM is a vasodilator. HM - also responsible for - nasal congestion
associated w/ common cold and allergic response to pollen.
Other AHM (synthetic) - brompheniramine (Dimetapp) and terfenadine (Seldane):

Act by - competing w/ HM for binding sites of receptor where HM exerts its effect. So, these
AHMs are anti-allergic. (But why do these not act as antacids too? - because antiallergic and
antacid drugs work on different receptors.

Mnemonics:
C(o)i met hits Rani T(a)i to remove here acidity - then they dine(d)
said
Tu-ga-mate

So, beautiful that jaan take

bro(o)m on p ir's

hen NH2. Ki allergy gone hen was so happy

that it went to a tap(p) and paid a dime to use it.

Terfe na(g)dine in Selem ka dane because of her allergy

Neurologically Active drugs

(a) Tranquilizers
-

affect msg transfer mechanism from nerve to receptor.

Nor adrenaline (mnemonics: Nor - blood rushing - adrenaline). - a neurotransmitter - role in

mood changes. - if low - signal sending activity is also low results in depression - to
counter - anti depressants are required - they inhibit enzymes wh/ catalyse the degradation
of noradrenaline -then, it is slowly metabolised and activates its receptors depression
gone. Drug Egs: Iproniazid and phenelzine (Nardil). (fig. below):

mnemonics:
I (am) pron (ia) to zid - leads me to depression - to come out I use neither a
phene(y)l bottle ka zine nor dil.

This was an eg. of tranquilisers - used for treatment of stress, irritability or excitement
- by inducing a sense of well - being

 Other tranquilisers:

Chlordiazepoxide and meprobamate : mild tranquilisers for releasing tension.

Equanil: to control depression and hypertension.

mnemonics:
Chamlor diaz

- was tensed - me went and her probalm I ate.

depression
Equal (ni) l
hypertension

Derivatives of barbituric acid - called barbiturates - (veronal, amytal, nembutal, luminal,

seconal) - imp. class of tranquilisers- are hypnotic - sleep producing agents.

Other Egs. of tranquilisers: Valium, Serotonin.

mnemonics:
When Veronica visited Amity, it luminated, lives of every second nembu
whose lives were nothing but barbaric till then, but now under her
hypnotism, they fell asleep
All Sher with Valour are brought down using tranquilisers

Non - narcotic (non-addictive)

(b) Analgesics

Narcotic

reduce pain w/o causing consciousness impairment, mental confusion, incoordination or

paralysis or some other disturbance of nervous system.

Non-narcotic: Eg. Aspirin and paracetamol.

Aspirin:

prostagladins - stimulate inflammation tissue-cause pain.

its creation stopped by

Aspirin. (esp. for skeleton pain due to arthritis, reduce fever
(antipyretic), prevent platelet coagulation)

Also, has anti blood clotting action used in prevention

of heart attacks.

Narcotic: Eg. Morphine and its homologues (Eg. Heroin, Codeine.)

When given in medicinal doses - relieve pain and produce sleep

in poisonous doses - stupor, coma, convulsions, ultimately death.
called opiates (as obtained from opium poppy).
used also for : post operative pain, cardiac pain, pains of terminal cancer, in child
birth.

Learning aid:

Analgesics

Non-narcotic

Aspirin

Narcotic

Paracetamol

Heroin(e) took morphine in a codeine

Antimicrobials

Diseases in humans/animals caused by

variety of micro organisms:

They are destroyed/inhibited devp. by anti

microbial drugs:

bacteria

anti bacterial drugs

virus

anti viral agents

fungi

anti fungal agents

other pathogens / parasites

anti parasitic drugs

Antibiotics, Antiseptics and disinfectants - antimicrobial drugs.

(a)

Antibiotics

treat infections - have low toxicity for humans and animals.

Now - synthetic methods to develop them and also some purely synthetic cmp s have been
found to have antibacterial properly - So, modified def: produced wholly/partly by chemical
synthesis - wh/inhibit / destroy micro org. - by intervening in their metabolic process.

19th century - search for chemicals - that adversely affect bacteria - but not host - led Paul
Ehlrich - to discover arsphenamine (salvarsan) - (Arsenic based) - to treat syphilis. It affects
humans too - but bacteria, spirochete more so.

Azodyes As As replaced by N N
Ehlrich noted Salvarsan
Structure
also, tissues getting coloured by dyes selectively search for - cmps structurally similar
to azodyes and selectively bind to bacteria - led to prontosil, first effective anti bacterial agent

Prontosil - in body, converted to - sulphanil amide - which is the actual acting part - led to
a large no. of sulphonamide analogues - called sulpha drugs, collectively..
One of the most effective sulpha drugs: Sulpha pyridine

Originally - they were - chemical substances - produced by micro organisms (bacteria,

fungi, molds) - inhibit / destroy - micro org.

Similarity in

mnemonics:
Silvers son - being as phine as amine - Chats spirally as he sees philips TV
Salvarsan - azodye - prontosil - sulph anil amide - sulph on amide analogues sulpha drugs - sulph a pyridine. (connect as a story).

Alexander Fleming - discovered - Penicillium fungus - took 13 yrs. in trials penicillin.

Antibiotics - cidal (killing) effect or

Static (inhibitory) effect

Bactericidal

Bacteriostatic

Penicillin

Erythromycin

Aminoglycosides

Tetracycline

Ofloxacin

Chloram phenicol

Spectrum of action: range of bacteria/micro organisms that are affected by a certain

antibiotic.

Broad spectrum

Narrow spectrum

Limited spectrum

Kill/inhibit a wide
range of Gram+ve
Gramve bacteria.

mainly against
either Gram +ve
or Gram ve bac.

if active against a
single organism/
disease.
Eg. Penicillin G
synthetic modification
broad
spectrum

Ampicillin
Amoxycillin.

Penicillin - may be allergic - , needs to be tested for before being administered. (Mfg:
Hindustan antibiotics at Pimpri).
[Note: Gram - staining is a method of differentiating bacterial species into two large groups:
Gram positive & Gram negative. It is based on the chemical/physical properties of the cell
walls. Primarily it detects peptidogly can, which is present in a thick layer in Gram positive
bacteria. A Gram +ve results in a purple/blue colour while a Gram negative results in a pink/
red colour].

Broad spectrum antibiotics:

Chloramphenicol:

rapidly from gastro intestinal tract - So, given orally in case

of typhoid, dysentry, acute fever, certain urinary infections,
meningitis and pneumomia.

Vancomycin and ofloxacin

Dysidazirine: supposed to be toxic towards certain strains of cancer cells.

Learning Aids (Antibiotics)

Amine - having no penny - committed suicide and in his grave became
glucose of lux (Asin) on side.
As all tetra cycles became static - they were er ... thrown towards
chlorine fevicol.
2G spectrum Raja - was given p enicillin G - but that didn't help - So,
SC ordered Ampicillin/Amoxycillin which made him 3G spectrum Raja.
Of lux Asin - was tied with chlorine fevicol and driven to a Van
company to talk on 3G spectrum.
Daisy - maji of rin - was diagnosed with cancer

(b)

Antiseptics and disinfectants (kill/prevent growth-micro organisms)

Antiseptics applied to living tissues (wounds, cuts, ulcers, diseased skin surfaces)
- not ingested.
Eg s :

Antiseptic

Purpose

Furacine

multi purpose

Soframicine

multi purpose

Dettol
(terpineol + chloroxylenol)

common wounds, shaving

Bithionol (or Bithional)

added to soaps for antiseptic properties.

Tincture of Iodine
(2-3% I2 in R OH + H2O)

applied on wounds.

Iodoform

Boric acid (aq)

Weak antiseptic for eyes.

- DO -

Disinfectants: applied to inanimate objects like floors, drainage systems.

Egs : same as antiseptic but in varying concentration.

0.2%

phenols

1%

antiseptic
disinfectant.

Cl2 (0.2 0.4 ppm) (aq)

SO2 in low conc.

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Learning aid:
:

Dettol

Bithionol :

terpine oil and a xylo with Chlorine and Alchol.

for bathing

I have wounds
When I am bored, I put boric acid in my eyes.
Antifertility drugs

Antibiotics - long and healthy life - life expectancy doubled presence on food resources,
unemployment, etc. - to counter these - population needs to be planned - family planning antifertility drugs - a step in that direction.

Birth control pills - (synthetic estrogen + progesterone derivatives) - both cmps - are
hormones - progesterone - suppresses ovulation - its synthetic versions are more potent.

Nore thin drone - Eg. of progesterone derivative.

ethynylestradiol (nonvestrol) - Eg. of estrogen derivative.

Learning Aid:
P (register one) Nor thin neither drone
Is trojan war fought with ethynyl extra or di-ol.
No, its fought with Vest in a roll.

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CHEMICAL S IN FOOD
Introduction
preservation.
Chemical - added in food for

appeal enhancement (like looks)

nutritive value.

Colours
Flavours & sweeteness
Main categories:

To increase shelf life Fat emulsifiers and stabilizing agents (surface chemistry)

(or)
Flour improvers-antistaling agents & bleaches.
Cosmetic purposes Antioxidants

Preservatives

Natrutive value Nutritional supplements minerals,vits,amino acids

Artificial Sweetening Agents

Natural sweeteners (Eg. Sucrose) - high calories - , many avoid it.

Artificial sweetener:

Sweetener

Sweetness compared
to cane sugar

Remarks

Saccharin
(Ortho-sulpha benzimide)

550

entirely inert excreted as such

harmless. Esp. useful for diabetic people.

Aspartame

100

aspartic acid + phenylalanine

dipeptide
its methyl ester
Aspartame
(Unstable at cooking temperature So,
use ltd. to cold foods and soft drinks).

Alitame

2000

high potency (strength) sweetener - more

stable than aspartame - but control of
sweetness is difficult.

Sucrolose

600

Sucrose trichloro derivative - appears

and tastes like sugar - stable at cooking temp.

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Learning aid
Saccha Rin == Ortho Sulpho Benz Imide. (O ! SBI)
As per tom Aspartame is sweet
Ali tamed his over - sweet behaviour.
Su Cro? lose weight
Food preservatives (prevent spoilage of food due to microbial growth).

Egs:

Salt (table), sugar

Vegetable oils
Sodium Benzoate (C 6 H5 COONa) - used in ltd. quantity - metabolised in the body

(Metabolism: Your metabolism is the way that chemical processes in your body cause food to
be used in an efficient way, for example to make new cells and to give you energy).

Salts of sorbic acid and propanoic acid

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Antioxidants

Food decomposes by oxidation - Antioxidants (AO) - retard the action of Oxygen on food - reducing
its speed of decomposition food preservation.
They act by virtue of being more reactive towards oxygen than are the materials they are protecting.
Also, reduce rate of involvement of free radicals in ageing process.

Egs :

added to preserve fats in packaged food - by - Oxygen reacting preferably with them.
their addition to butter - increases storage life from months to years.
Sometimes added with citric/ascorbic acids to produce a more active synergetic
effect.

Other Eg s

SO 2
Sulphites (Na 2 SO3 , NaHSO3 , sodium meta bisulphite)
both are used for

beer & wine

Sugar syrup
Cut, peeled or dried fruits and vegetables
Prevent / reduce their discolouration

Questions:

Name one AO commonly used to increase the storage life of butter.

Name one AO used in wine and beers.

CLEANSING AGENTS
Introduction
Soaps

Two types of detergents

Synthetic detergents

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improve cleansing property

of water.
by helping in
removal of fats wh/ bind other
materials to the fabric/skin

Soaps
Preparation (called saponification):
fat + NaOH (aq) soap.

Chemically, they are Na/K salts of long chain fatty acids, eg. stearic, oleic and palmitic acids.

hydrolyse
NaCl
(esters of fatty acids)
soap
precipitated soap
colloidal

when removed
glycerol left behind
(recovered by F.D.)

K soaps - softer than Na Soaps. - prepared by using KOH instead of NaOH in the above.

Types of soaps
Gen. prep: fats / oils + suitable hydroxide variations by using different raw mat.

Contain Sodium rosinate

Sodium sillicate
Sodium carbonate
Borax

vin

ps

c hi

Sha

ap

ndr

substances of
medicinal value
(and deodorants)
are added.

So

Lau

by running a thin sheet of

melted soap on a cool
cylinder - scrap off in places

Contain glycerol - to prevent drying

rosin (a gum) is added - forms
sodium rosinate - lathers well.

il
To

et

Floating Soap
Tra
es
ns p
nul
a
r
are
G
p
nt
Soa
Soap
Scouting
powder Soap
Medicated

Soap types

dried miniature
soap bubbles

better grade fat/oil

excess alkali must be removed
added colour & perfumes

by beating tiny air bubbles

before hardening

by dissolving soap in ethanol

(then evaporate the solvent)

scourging agent (abrasive)

Eg. powdered pumice/
finely divided sand
Buiders: Na2CO3 (or) Na3PO4 ( make soap act rapidly).

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 Why do soaps not work in Hard water?

contains
Ca 2 and Mg 2 . When soap is dissolved, the following rxn
Hard water (HW)
takes place:

2C17 H 35COONa CaCl2 2 NaCl C17 H 35COO 2 Ca Insoluble Calcium Stearate

An insoluble cmp. ppt. out - separate as scum - useless as cleaning agent - further - sticks
to clothes as a gummy mass.
Thats why hair washed with HW - looks dull.
Thats why dye - doesnt absorb evenly on cloth washed in hard water.
Synthetic detergents

all properties of soap - but dont contain soap - can be used in hard water as well and even in ice
cold water.

Anionic

Non-ionic

Cationic

Anionic detergents (AD)

Sodium salts of sulphonated long chain alcohols or HC.

Prep:

Conc.

Alkyl Hydrogen Sulphate

long chain alcohols
H 2SO 4

NaOH

Alkyl benzene sulphonic acid

NaOH

Anionic detergent.

Anionic part - involved in cleansing action.

Use : household work, toothpastes.

Cationic detergents (CD)

with
quarternary ammonium salts of amines
CH 3COO , Cl , Br as anions

Cationic part: long HC chain and on N.

The following CD is used in hair conditioners:

Have germicidal properties and are expensive

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Non-ionic detergents (NID)

No ions
An example:
Use: Liquid dishwashing
Mechanism of action: Same as soaps. (ie. by micelle formation)
Problem w/ detergents

if HC part - highly branched bacteria cant degrade it leads to their accumulation they reach water bodies as such cause foaming in water bodies and thus pollutes them.

Solution: branching of HC is kept at a minimum.

Learning Aid:

Soap : Steer using palm oil Na/K salts

AD: Long chain alcohol/HC (sulphonated) Na salts.

CD : Quaternary ammonium salts of Amines with A B C as anions.

END NOTE
Chemistry is essentially the study of materials and the development of new materials for the betterment of

humanity. A drug is a chemical agent, which affects human metabolism and provides cure from ailment. If taken
in doses higher than recommended, these may have poisonous effect. Use of chemicals for therapeutic effect is
called chemotherapy. Drugs usually interact with biological macromolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins,
lipids and nucleic acids. These are called target molecules. Drugs are designed to interact with specific targets
so that these have the least chance of affecting other targets. This minimises the side effects and localises the
action of the drug. Drug chemistry centres around arresting microbes/destroying microbes, preventing the
body from various infectious diseases, releasing mental stress, etc. Thus, drugs like analgesics, antibiotics,
antiseptics, disinfectants, antacids and tranquilizers are used for specific purpose. To check the population
explosion, antifertility drugs have also become prominent in our life.
Food additives such as preservatives, sweetening agents, flavours, antioxidants, edible colours and nutritional
supplements are added to the food to make it attractive, palatable and add nutritive value. Preservatives are
added to the food to prevent spoilage due to microbial growth. Artificial sweeteners are used by those who
need to check the calorie intake or are diabetic and want to avoid taking sucrose.
These days, detergents are much in vogue and get preference over soaps because they work even in hard
water. Synthetic detergents are classified into three main categories, namely: anionic, cationic and non-ionic,
and each category has its specific uses. Detergents with straight chain of hydrocarbons are preferred
over branched chain as the latter are non-biodegradable and consequently cause environmental pollution.

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