ChemCases.Com
Drug Pathways and Chemical Concepts
Prof. Sally Boudinot

Chemical Equilibrium and Acid/Base Chemistry

We rely on drugs to make us healthy when we are sick and to keep us healthy when we are well.  We can:

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swallow them or

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inject them or

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inhale them.

but the trick is to make these drugs chemically available to our body's systems as they are needed.

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Three major questions based on concepts of General Chemistry determine if drugs can be effectively delivered to the systems of the body.

  • Are the drug molecules - ionic or covalent, fat soluble or water soluble?

    • How can we control the ionic or covalent nature and influence the solubility characteristics through concepts of acid/base chemistry?

      • How can these manipulations influence the kinetic rate of transfer of drug molecules across membranes and through systems?

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We begin with the study of equilibrium behavior and the factors that affect acid/base chemistry

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Continue with: Concept Map on Phenobarbitol

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ChemCases.Com is an NSF supported curriculum project.  The principles of General Chemistry can be linked to the responsible decision making that scientists and others make in the development and use of successful products.  This case is one of a series developed at Kennesaw State University.  Please see a full description of the program at ChemCases.Com

Principal Investigator
Laurence I. Peterson, Dean
College of Science and Mathematics
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Rd.
Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
770-423-6160
FAX 770-423-6530
email lpeterso@ksumail.kennesaw.edu

Program Director
Matthew E. Hermes
76 Meridian Rd.
Beaufort, SC 29907
843-322-0486
email hayden@islc.net

Prof. Sally Boudinot
College of Pharmacy
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
sallyb@rx.uga.edu