20410811 - DRUG ANALYSIS I

General Objectives
The course of Drug Analysis I with Laboratory aims to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge related to the detection and qualitative identification of inorganic substances of pharmaceutical and toxicological interest. The course also aims to provide knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmaceutical and toxicological properties of these substances.
Specific Objectives
1. Student Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be familiar with all aspects of the chemical reactions and methods used for the separation and identification of cations of pharmaceutical interest included in the six groups of classical systematics, as well as the anions identifiable through detection in so-called alkaline solutions. Furthermore, students will be able to theoretically and practically apply the concepts of acid-base equilibria, hydrolysis, complexation, precipitation, and oxidation-reduction, and evaluate all their interdependencies for the purpose of identifying inorganic compounds. Equally important, students will understand the biological mechanisms underlying the pharmaceutical and toxicological properties of inorganic cations and anions at the molecular level.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the cations and anions contained in a mixture of salts, starting from the application and interpretation of specific chemical separation and identification methods and assays. They will understand the chemical reactivity used for their separation and identification, and will also acquire the ability to understand and resolve problems related to these assays. Knowledge of the properties and reactivity of inorganic substances will allow students to understand the biological, pharmacological, and toxicological functions performed by these substances. They will be familiar with the most common therapeutic problems and the pharmaceutical solutions available for the treatment of the main pathologies associated with deficiency or intoxication by inorganic substances.
3. Critical thinking and judgment skills (lab tests, written reports, etc.)
Lessons will all be interactive, with the instructor constantly asking students questions to stimulate them and develop their logical and critical thinking. These questions will also serve to evaluate and encourage students to make connections between the various topics covered in the program, thus achieving overall mastery of the subject matter. They will also consider the study of chemical, pharmaceutical, and toxicological analysis as an integral part and link with other disciplines already studied (general and inorganic chemistry, physics, anatomy, biology) or to be pursued in future studies (biochemistry, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, toxicology).
4. Ability to communicate what has been learned
Students' learning will be assessed through a practical laboratory exam and an oral exam. The first will focus on the topics covered in the laboratory and the second on all the topics covered in the program, testing the student's ability to communicate what has been learned.
5. Ability to continue studying independently
Students will find the topics and related in-depth analysis covered in class in the recommended texts and the materials provided by the instructor. This research will be useful in the future, when the concepts taught may have been forgotten. The texts and materials provided will remain a reference point for the student, who will know where to go to find the details of partially forgotten concepts.
teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

1. General. Scales, purposes and methods of inorganic qualitative analysis. The dry way: theoretical assumptions. Dry way essays for the research of cations and anions: flame tests, pearl essays, tube tests. Specific recognition tests. (6 hours)
The wet way: theoretical assumptions. Chemical characteristics of the compounds. The states of matter. Ionic, metallic, and molecular solids and liquids; covalent or reticular solids, amorphous solids. Safety in the chemical laboratory: evaluation of the chemical risk. (6 hours)
2. Thermodynamics of solutions. Solubility of solids in liquids; miscibility between liquids; solubility of gases in liquids. (4 hours)
The equilibria in solution (theoretical aspects and calculations): A) Hydrolysis equilibria. Types of salts and corresponding types of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis of anion. Hydrolysis of the cation. Simultaneous hydrolysis of cation and anion. (4 hours)
B) Complexation equilibria. Coordination compounds (complexes). Chelates. The chemical bond in the coordination compounds: theories of the valence bond, of the crystalline field and of the molecular orbitals. Stability of the complexes; the instability constant. Masking effect of the complexes. Effect of pH on complexation equilibria: hydrolysis of the cation; hydrolysis of the ligand. Influence of hydrolysis equilibria on complexes stability. Changes of pH due to formation of complexes. (8 hours)
3. Precipitation equilibria (theoretical aspects and calculations). Solubility; solubility product. Effect of the common ion on solubility. Dynamics of the formation of precipitates; crystalline and colloidal precipitates. Physical and chemical factors that influence the formation of precipitates: temperature, ionic strength of the solution, hydrolysis, pH of the solution. Pollution of precipitates; co-precipitation and post-precipitation. Adsorption, isomorphic substitution and occlusion. Aging of precipitates. (4 hours)
Precipitation and hydrolysis; amphoteric hydroxides. Precipitation and complexation: silver halides and ammonia; Ni2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ ions and ammonia; separation Cu2+/Cd2+. (6 hours)
Redox equilibria. General information on redox reactions. Influence of pH on redox reactions. Influence of the formation of precipitates (case of HgS) and of the complexes (case of the recognition of Bi3+ with Sn(OH)3 on redox reactions). (4 hours)
Classical systematic analysis: methods and reactions for the research and recognition of cations and anions. Italian FU IX and X ed .: identification reactions for inorganic cations and anions (10 hours)
4. PHARMACEUTICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS. 1. Principles of general Medicinal Chemistry. Definition of medication,drug, and poison. Therapeutic Index. Absorption, distribution, metabolism (phase 1 and phase 2) and drug excretion. 2. Principles of general toxicology. Definition of toxic. Acute and chronic intoxication. Mechanisms of pharmacological and toxic action. Antidotes for heavy metal poisoning. (4 hours)
3. Special Part: A) Heavy metal poisoning: Lead, Mercury, Silver, Cadmium, Bismuth, Antimony, Nickel. B) Pharmacological and toxicological properties of Arsenic (arsenic trioxide in the treatment of APL). C) Pharmacological and toxicological properties of ions of biological interest: Copper, Tin, Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Chromium, Cobalt, Calcium, Barium, Magnesium, Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Ammonium, Halides, Nitrates, Oxalates, Sulfates, Carbonates, Acetates, Borates, Cyanides. (4 hours)


Core Documentation

1) Fedele Manna. Analysis of Medicines. CISU ed. Rome.
2) Antonio Araneo. Qualitative Analytical Chemistry. Ambrosiana ed. Milan.
3) Arnaldo Peloso. Qualitative Inorganic Chemistry Analysis. Cortina ed. Padua.
4) Italian F.U. IX and X ed.

Attendance

The attendance of the course is compulsory for both lectures and laboratory exercises.

Type of evaluation

The assessment method of the course is characterized by five possible oral exam appeals and a practical exam test concerning the laboratory experience carried out immediately after the end of the lectures. The teacher offers full willingness to organize any postponement for each appeal inserted on Infostud in order to meet the requests of the students. This is to give the students the widest possibilities to optimize the outcome of the exam. During the oral examination the teacher verifies the knowledge and learning that the student has acquired on all parts of the exam program. The topics presented should be treated with a language appropriate to a professional operating in the world of pharmacy. The elements taken into consideration for the evaluation are: the knowledge of the subject in all the parts described in the program, the use of an appropriate scientific language, the active participation during the lectures and the laboratory exercises, the ability of reasoning demonstrated in the examination interview, the ability to study autonomously on the suggested texts. Sufficient knowledge of the topics covered, in the various parts of the program, is required for passing the exam with minimum grades. To achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude instead, the student must demonstrate that he has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course, being able to connect them in a logical and consistent way. He/she has also to demonstrate that it has mastered the subject, moving through it with security, appropriateness and naturalness.