Alkali Metals Overview

Alkali Metals

• Hydrogen is an inflammable air, the lightest and most reactive element.
• Lithium (Lithos "earth") is the lightest metal.
• Lithium has depressant and diuretic properties.
• Lithium can cause hyponatremia.
• Lithium Bromide is a depressant.
• Lithium Carbonate is the DOC for mania.
• Sodium ("Natrium") is the primary extracellular cation.
• Sodium acetate is a diuretic, urinary and systemic acidifier, and antacid.
• Sodium bicarbonate is a systemic antacid, carbonating agent, and source of P or phosphate.
• Sodium bicarbonate can cause alkalosis, rebound hyperacidity, and edema.
• Sodium Phosphate is a cathartic and source of P or phosphate, and urinary acidifier.
• Sodium Chloride is a washing soda, sal soda, soda ash, monohydrate Na2CO3.
• Sodium Citrate is an electrolyte replenisher, tonicity adjuster, and...
• Sodium Fluoride, a component in toothpaste, is an anti-cariogenic (2% solution)
• Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda) is an oxidizing agent, bleaching agent, and disinfectant.
• Sodium Phosphate is a reducing agent

Alkaline Earth Metals

• Beryllium (Glucinum) is the most toxic metal and can cause berylliosis, granulomas due to inhalation.
• Magnesium is the lightest structurally significant metal (found in chlorophyll).
• Magnesium is the 2nd most abundant intracellular cation.
• Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker.
• Magnesium is a component of the Grignard reagent.
• Magnesium carbonate is an antacid and laxative.
• Magnesium hydroxide is an antacid and laxative.
• Magnesium oxide is an antacid and laxative.
• Magnesium trisilicate is an antacid.
• Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) is a cathartic.
• Magnesium silicate, talc, French chalk, and asbestos have various uses.
• Calcium is a constituent of hydroxyapatite.
• Calcium is the 2nd most abundant extracellular cation.
• Calcium is important for blood clotting.
• Vitamin D is needed for maximum absorption of calcium.
• Calcium is used in coagulation, contraction, neurotransmitter release, and strong bones/teeth.
• Deficiency states include osteoporosis, rickets, and osteomalacia, and hypocalemia.

Boron Group/Icosagens

• Boron is a component of borosilicate glass.
• Borate + methanol = green-bordered flame
• Boric acid (H3BO3) is an ophthalmic antiseptic (2-4%).
• Sodium tetraborate is known as borax.
• Gallium nitrate is used to correct hypercalcemia.
• Aluminum, from bauxite or cryolite, is the 3rd most abundant element.
• Aluminum can cause Shaver's disease or Bauxite fibrosis.
• Various aluminum compounds have astringent, antiseptic, and antiperspirant properties.

Carbon Group

• Carbon forms crystalline forms like diamond, graphite, and amorphous forms like bituminous and anthracite coal.
• Carbon dioxide is a respiratory stimulant, a component of dry ice, and used for wart elimination.
• Carbon monoxide is a respiratory poison.
• Silicon is the 2nd most abundant element, used in semiconductors/electronics.
• Germanium is used in semiconductors and optic fibers.
• Tin (Stannum) is a major component of alloys (solder, pewter, babbit).
• Tin compounds are used in dentistry (stannous fluoride) and as germicides (stannous oxide).
• Lead, originally used in plumbing, is harmful.
• Lead acetate ("sugar of lead") is an astringent.
• Various lead compounds have astringent properties or use.
• Lead sulfate, and the mineral galena, are lead-containing materials.

Nitrogen Group

• Phosphorous is a light carrier, part of St. Elmo's fire, and is present in white and black forms, and red phosphorous.
• Phosphorous is present in phosphorous acid (H3PO4) and hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2).
• Arsenic (lewsite metal) is a toxic chemical warfare agent.
• Antimony (Stibium) is a poison similar to arsenic.
• Bismuth subsalicylate is an anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and antacid used for H. pylori infections.

Oxygen Group

• Sulfur is called brimstone, shubari, and is copper-resistant.
• Sulfur is extracted underground through the Frasch process.
• Sulfur is antifungal and scabicide and can exist in different states(Sulfur dioxide, Sulfurous Anhydride, etc. ).
• Selenium is known as selenium or Selena, and exists as selenium sulfide used to treat seborrhea dermatitis.
• Polonium is found in pitchblende ore and is used in nuclear reactors.

Halogens

• Fluorine is the most electronegative atom, use in dental caries, osteoporosis, or Fluorosis, and stronger oxidizing agent.
• Chlorine is a greenish gas used for water disinfection (sodium hypochlorite/bleach).
• Bromine is a reddish-brown liquid, with toxic properties (brominism), and is a CNS depressant.
• Iodine is dark violet solid, found in thyroid hormones and can cause iodism. Antidotes are starch and sodium thiosulfate. Deficiency causes goiter.

Noble Gases

• Helium, the 2nd lightest element, is used in gas chromatography and lighting.
• Argon, the most abundant noble gas, is a nitrogen substitute for pharmaceutical inerts.
• Krypton and Xenon have some anesthetic properties.
• Radon is used for earthquake detection in inert gas.

Coinage Metals

• Copper (Cuprum) is a reddish metal, significant for conductivity, and associated with Wilson's disease.
• Copper sulfate (CuSO4 5 H₂O) is a blue stone and component of several mixtures.
• Silver (Argentum) has oligodynamic property, germicidal action, and associated with argyria.
• Gold (Aurum), the king of metals, has high malleability, electrical conductivity.
• Aqua regia (a mixture) dissolves gold.

Volatile Metals

• Zinc is present in insulin and carbonic anhydrase, is the 2nd most abundant trace element, and associated with parakeratosis and metal fume fever.
• Cadmium toxicity causes Itai-Itai disease, a condition involving painful bones and renal insufficiency; it can have multiple sulfide forms.
• Mercury (quicksilver) is a liquid metal used historically in medicine and other applications but has associated mercury toxicity.
• Various mercury compounds have various uses (e.g., cathartics, local antiseptics).

Group 6B

• Chromium is also known as the glucose tolerance factor.
• Molybdenum is lead-like and contains ammonium molybdate, a reagent for testing phosphates.

Group IVB

• Titanium has powerful reducing agents.
• Titanium is used for surgical implants.
• Titanium dioxide is an opacifying agent.

Group 7B

• Manganese can have Parkinson-like symptoms due to toxicity.
• Potassium permanganate is a powerful oxidizing agent used in qualitative testing of alkenes (Bayer's test).
• Technetium is the first artificially produced element.
• Various technetium compounds are used in imaging and other medicinal applications.

Group 8B

• Iron is present in the body and important for hemoglobin.
• Cobalt is involved in erythrocyte and hemoglobin development and is part of vitamin B12.
• Nickel's use is in copper, jewelry, and fossil fuel applications.