Chemistry of Volatile Metals and Zinc

Volatile Metals

• Volatile metals have relatively low melting points.
• Volatile metals include zinc, cadmium, and mercury.
• Volatile metals exhibit auto-complexation.
• Only zinc is amphoteric.

Zinc

• Zinc is the second most important trace element in the body.
• Zinc stabilizes insulin and increases its shelf life.
• Zinc is an essential component of carbonic anhydrase and other enzymes.
• Zinc deficiency leads to parakeratosis of the skin and impaired immunity.
• Zinc toxicity causes metal fume fever.
• Baking soda is an antidote for zinc toxicity.

Zinc Chloride

• Zinc chloride is also known as Butter of Zinc or Burnett's Disinfecting Fluid.
• Zinc chloride is deliquescent.
• Zinc chloride is an antiseptic found in mouthwashes, Astring-O-Sol®, and dentin desensitizing agents.
• Zinc chloride is a component of Lucas Reagent.

Zinc Oxide

• Zinc oxide is also known as Flowers of Zinc or Zinc White.
• Zinc oxide is a component of Lassar's paste.
• Zinc oxide is a mild antiseptic, astringent, and topical protectant.
• Zinc oxide is a physical sunblock due to its opacity and high refractive index.

Zinc Sulfide

• Zinc sulfide is an ingredient in white lotion.
• Zinc sulfide is made by combining zinc sulfate with sulfurated potash.
• Lithopone is a mixture of 30% zinc sulfide and 70% barium sulfide.
• Zinc sulfide is used as a parasiticide, topical protectant, and antiseptic.

Zinc Sulfate

• Zinc sulfate is also known as White Vitriol or Zinc Vitriol.
• Zinc sulfate is used as an ophthalmic astringent.
• Only a 0.25% solution of zinc sulfate is approved for over-the-counter use as an ophthalmic astringent.

Zinc-Eugenol Cement

• Zinc-Eugenol cement is used for dental protection.
• Eugenol is derived from clove oil.

Hydrated Zinc Silicate

• Hydrated Zinc Silicate is also known as Natural Calamine.
• Hydrated Zinc Silicate is used as a topical protectant.

Cadmium

• Cadmium has an astringent pharmacologic action.
• Cadmium is used in the manufacture of stink bombs.
• Cadmium toxicity causes Itai-Itai disease.
• Cigarette smoking is a common source of cadmium exposure.
• BAL (dimercaprol) or EDTA are antidotes for cadmium toxicity.

Cadmium Compounds

• Cadmium chloride is an emetic and is used to treat tinea or ringworm infections.
• Cadmium sulfide is the only yellow sulfide, and is an anti-seborrheic agent.
• Capsebon® is a combination of cadmium sulfide and calcium chloride.
• Cadmium sulfate is a topical astringent and ophthalmic antiseptic.

Mercury

• Mercury is also known as Quicksilver, Messenger of the Gods, or Liquid Silver.
• Mercury is the only metal that exists as a liquid at room temperature.
• Organic mercury is more toxic than inorganic mercury.
• Mercury toxicity can cause Pink's disease, Acrodynia, or Hydrargyria (Erethism).
• Organic mercury toxicity causes Minamata Disease.
• Minamata Disease is caused by organic mercury crossing the blood-brain barrier, leading to brain damage and mutagens.
• Sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate is an antidote for mercury toxicity.

Mercurous Chloride

• Mercurous chloride is also known as Calomel or Mild Mercury Chloride.
• Mercurous chloride is a cathartic.
• Black lotion is a mixture of calomel and lime water.

Mercuric Chloride

• Mercuric chloride is also known as Corrosive Sublimate or Mercury Bichloride.
• Mercuric chloride is a disinfectant and antisyphilitic.

Mercury Iodides

• Mercurous iodide was used for the treatment of syphilis.
• Mercuric iodide stimulated indolent and painless ulcers.
• Mercury potassium iodide is known as Mayer's Reagent.

Mercuric Oxide

• Mercuric oxide is also known as "yellow precipitate."
• Mercuric oxide is an ophthalmic anti-infective.

Ammoniated Mercury

• Ammoniated Mercury is also known as Mercuric Amidochloride or Non-fusible White Precipitate.
• Ammoniated Mercury is a mild topical antiseptic.

Boron

• Boron is used industrially for vulcanizing rubber.
• Boron (as borate) lowers the coefficient of expansion of glass.

Boric Acid

• Boric acid is also known as Sal Sativum.
• Boric acid is toxic, creating a "lobster appearance" in cases of toxicity.
• Boric acid is used as a germicide in eyewashes (2% ophthalmic solution), antiseptic, and tonicity adjusting agent.

Borax

• Borax is also known as Sodium tetraborate decahydrate.
• Borax is an antiseptic and is used for throat and nose washes, as well as wet dressings for wounds.
• Dobell's solution is a borax-based solution.

Aluminum

• Aluminum is the most abundant metal and the third most abundant element.
• Aluminum is amphoteric.
• Thin aluminum foil is used to treat burns.
• Aluminum compounds are used as antacids, antiperspirants, and deodorants.
• Aluminum exposure can cause Shaver's Disease.
• Aluminum is a neurotoxin that affects the brain.
• Exposure to bauxite fumes can cause Bauxite Pneumoconiosis.

Aluminum Chloride

• Aluminum chloride hexahydrate is a Lewis acid.
• Aluminum chloride is used as an astringent, antiseptic, deodorant, and antiperspirant.
• Driclor® is a 25% aluminum chloride solution used for hyperhidrosis.
• Perspirant stains are caused by sweat reacting with aluminum ions.
• Sodium carbonate and iron washing can remove perspirant stains.

Aluminum Hydroxide

• Aluminum hydroxide is used as a gastric antacid and protectant.
• Aluminum hydroxide is found in Amphogel® and Cremalin Gel.
• Aluminum hydroxide can cause side effects like constipation and phosphate deficiency.

Aluminum Phosphate

• Aluminum phosphate is found in Phosphagel®.
• Aluminum phosphate is used as a gastric antacid, demulcent, and astringent.
• Aluminum phosphate does not interfere with phosphate levels.

Aluminum Carbonate

• Aluminum carbonate is found in Basal Gel®.
• Aluminum carbonate is used in the treatment of phosphatic calculi.
• Aluminum carbonate promotes the elimination of phosphate via the fecal route.

Alumina

• Alumina is also known as aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
• Alumina is used in the treatment of silicosis.