CHAPTER 

Chemistry in
Everyday Life
Chemistry influences our daily life and is used in ¾ On the basis of molecular targets: These
following ways to benefit the human life: are the types of drugs that interact with
¾ Production of cleanliness products such as different biomolecules such as proteins and
soaps, detergents, toothpaste etc. carbohydrates and directly affect the targets.
¾ Use of chemicals in food as preservatives, x Drug-target interaction
artificial sweetening agents etc. ¾ Enzymes are the proteins that act as biological
¾ Use of chemicals in medicines as antiseptics, catalysts
antacids, antibiotics etc. ¾ Catalytic action of enzymes: For this action
of enzymes interactions such as hydrogen
&TWIUCPFVJGKTENCUUKſECVKQP bonding or dipole-dipole interactions are
x Chemical substances of low molecular masses required. The substrate molecule is held by
which produce biological responses are called the active site of enzyme by using the strong
drugs. When the effects of these drugs are interactions which is attacked by the reagent
therapeutic and useful, they are called medicines. and then the chemical reaction is carried out.
x Classification of Drugs
Active site
¾ On the basis of pharmacological effects: These are
the types of drugs that are prescribed for the
treatment of particular problem or sickness.
For example, antacids bring relief from acidity.
(b) Substrate
¾ On the basis of drug action: These are the types of (a) Enzyme (c) Enzyme holding
drugs that have a particular biochemical process substrate
for targeted effects. For example, antihistamines ¾ Drug-enzyme interaction: Enzyme inhibitors
that inhibits the actions of histamines that are the drugs that block the binding site of the
cause inflammation in the body. enzyme and the substrate. There are two ways
¾ On the basis of chemical structure: These are the in which this action takes place:
types of drugs that have a particular chemical (i) Some drugs called as competitive inhibitors
structure. For example, sulphonamides have compete for the active site of the enzyme
common chemical structural feature. attachment as shown in the diagram.
Drug
Drug

Active
site

Substrate

Enzyme Enzyme Substrate

Drug and substrate
competing for active Drug blocks the active
site of enzyme site of enzyme
 (ii) There are some drugs that do not bind with the active site of the enzyme but different site called
allosteric site. In this interaction, a strong covalent bond is required which cannot be broken easily.
Active site with
Active changed shape
site

Enzyme
Allosteric site
Inhibitor occupying
Inhibitor
allosteric site

¾ Receptors are proteins that are important for that helps in controlling hypertension and
communication in the body. For communication depression is Equanil.
between neurons to muscles, chemical ¾ There are some strong tranquilizers called
messengers are required which forwards the Barbiturates which are hypnotic such as
message to the cell without entering the cell. veronal, amytal, nembutal, luminal, valium
Different receptors have different binding and serotonin.
shapes, structures and composition.
x Analgesics: These are the types of drugs that
¾ Antagonists are those drugs that bind to the minimize or stop pain without actually causing
receptor site and inhibit its natural function any imbalance to nervous system. There are two
whereas agonists are the drugs that act as types:
natural messengers by swapping on the
¾ Non-narcotic(non-addictive) analgesics:
receptors.
These are the drugs that have a relieving
&KHHGTGPVENCUUGUQHFTWIUQPDCUKU effect on skeletal pain(joints pain), helps in
reducing fever and platelet coagulation and
QHVJGTCRGWVKECEVKQP also prevention of heart attacks as these drugs
x Antacids: These are the drugs that stop the excess have anti blood clotting action.
production of acids in the stomach that causes ¾ Narcotic analgesics: These are the types of
pain and irritation. The most common antacids drugs that also have relieving properties but
are sodium hydrogencarbonate or mixture of then taken in excess amount can have severe
magnesium hydroxide and aluminium. side effects such as coma, stupor and untimely
x Antihistamines: These are the drugs that have a death. This is the reason they are mainly used
particular biochemical process and have targeted in child birth, cardiac pain and terminal cancer
effects. For example, histamine is a chemical that pain. For example, Morphine, also referred to
activates the secretion of pepsin and hydrochloric as opiates.
acid in the stomach. Antihistamines react with x Antibiotics: These are the types of drugs that
the receptors and helps lessen the amount of stop the growth of microorganisms and kill them
such acids released in the stomach. For example, eventually these are drugs that are synthesized
common antihistamines are brompheniramine from chemicals that are low in concentration and
(Dimetapp) and terfenadine (Seldane). they act on metabolic processes.
x Tranquilizers: These are the types of drugs that ¾ A German bacteriologist, Paul Ehrlich
act on neurological issues such as stress, anxiety, produced arsphenamine, known as salvarsan,
severe or mild mental diseases and affect the for the treatment of syphilis. He was awarded
transfer mechanism from nerve to receptors. For the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1980. In 1932,
example, sleeping pills and nonadrenaline that he succeeded in preparing the first effective
act on mood changes. Iproniazid and phenelzine antibacterial agent, prontosil, which later was
are the two drugs that act as antidepressants, converted to sulphanilamide.
which activate receptors for a person suffering
from depression. ¾ H.W. Florey and Alexander Fleming shared
the Nobel prize for Medicine in 1945 for their
¾ There are some mild tranquilizers that independent contributions to the development
are suitable for relieving tension such as of penicillin.
chlordiazepoxide and meprobamate. The drug
 O ¾ Chloramphenicol can be given orally in case of
H H S CH3
typhoid, meningitis, acute fever, some form of
R — C — NH urinary infections, dysentery and pneumonia.
CH3
• Antiseptics and Disinfectants: These are used
N COOH,
O to kill or stop the growth of microorganisms.
H ¾ Antiseptics are used on outer wounds on skin
General Structure of Penicillin surface. For example, soframicine, furacine,
NHCOCHCl2 Iodoform and Iodine tincture etc. Dettol is a
| mixture of chloroxylenol and terpineol.
O2N — —CH — CH — CH2OH ¾ Disinfectants are the chemicals or drugs that
| are used in cleaning objects. For example,
OH Phenol is an antiseptic while its one percent
Chloramphenicol
solution is disinfectant.
¾ There are two types of antibiotics, Bactericidal x Anti-fertility drugs: These are the drugs that
and Bacteriostatic. Bactericidal have help in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. For
killing effects and examples are Penicillin, example, Birth control pills contain a mixture of
Aminoglycosides and Ofloxacin. Bacteriostatic synthetic estrogen and progesterone derivatives.
have inhibitory effects on microbes and both of which are hormones and known to
examples are Erythromycin, Tetracycline and suppresses ovulation.The commonly used anti-
Chloramphenicol. fertility drug is Norethindrone is an example of
synthetic progesterone derivative.

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x Artificial sweetening agents: These are the chemicals added in food to enhance their appeal such as food
colouring, flavours and sweeteners. Sucrose is a natural sweetener, whereas Saccharin is the first popular
artificial sweetening agent. This is useful for diabetic people. Some artificial sweeteners are Aspartame,
Sucrolose and Alitame.
x Food preservatives:They are added to increase the nutritive value of the food since they prevent spoilage
of food that happens due to microbial growth. For example, table salt, sugar, vegetable oils and sodium
benzoate, C6H5COONa are commonly used preservatives.

Cleansing agents
x Soaps: These are used for cleaning purposes and are mainly made of sodium or potassium salts of long
chain fatty acids.
O
||
CH2 — O — C — C17H35 CH2 — OH
| O |
||
CH — O — C — C17H35 + 3 NaOH 3C H
17 35COONa + CH — OH
O |
|
|| CH2 — OH
CH2 — O — C — C17H35
Gylceryl ester Sodium Sodium Glycerol
of stearic acid (Fat) hydroxide stearate (or Glycerine
¾ The process of obtaining sodium salts soaps by heating fat with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution is
called Saponification.
¾ There are different types of soaps such as toilet soaps, transparent soaps, medicated soaps, shaving
soaps, laundry soaps, soap powders or granules.
 ¾ Soaps don’t work in hard water because hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions which are
insoluble in water and separate out as scum in water and become useless. This is the reason why hairs
and clothes are not washed in hard water.
 2 NaCl  C17 H35COO 2 Ca
2C17 H36 COONa CaCl2 
Soap Insoluble calcium
stearate (Soap)

x Synthetic detergents:These have the same property as those of soaps but they work in hard water as well.
They have 3 main categories.
¾ Anionic detergents: These are the sodium salts of sulphonated long chain alcohols or hydrocarbons.
The anionic part of the molecule is involved in the cleansing action in anionic detergents. They are used
in toothpastes.
NaOH (aq) +
H2 SO4
CH3 (CH2 )10 CH2OH ¾¾¾¾ ® CH 3 (CH2 )10 CH2OSO3 H ¾¾¾¾¾® CH3 (CH2 )10 CH2OSO3 N a

Lauryl alcohol Lauryl hydrogensulphate Sodium laurylsulphate

(Anionic detergent )

NaOH (aq) +
H SO
CH3 (CH2 )11 ¾¾¾¾
2 ® CH3 (CH2 )11 SO3 H ¾¾¾¾¾® CH3 (CH2 )11 SO3 N a

Dodecylbenzene Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid Sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate

¾ Cationic detergents: They are quarternary ammonium salts of amines with acetates, chlorides or bromides
as anions. These detergents have germicidal properties. For example, Cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide
is used in hair conditioners.
¾ Non-ionic detergents: They do not contain any ion in their constitution. The grease and oil are
removed by micelle formation. For example, liquid dishwashing detergents.

EXERCISE
1. Soaps are 5. Arsenic drugs are mainly used in the treatment
(a) Sodium salts of long chain fatty acids of
(b) Potassium salts of long chain fatty acids (a) Jaundice (b) typhoid
(c) Potassium salts of short chain fatty acids (c) syphilis (d) cholera
(d) Both (a) and (b) 6. Which of the following can possibly be used
as analgesic without causing addiction and
2. Which of the following is the correct set of food
modification?
preservatives?
(a) Morphine
(a) Alitame, bithionol and terpineol
(b) N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
(b) Sodium benzoate, sugar and table salt
(c) Diazepam
(c) lodme, sugar and of loxain
(d) Tetrahydro catenol
(d) Table salt, seldane and sugar
7. Asprin is an acetylation product of
3. Receptors help in
(a) p-dihydroxy benzene
(a) Communication of the cells
(b) p-hydroxybenzoic acid
(b) Killing of the cells
(c) o-dihydroxybenzene
(c) degradation of the cells
(d) m-hydroxybenzoic acid
(d) None of the above.
8. Which of the following is an antidiabetic drug?
4. Substances used in bringing down the body
temperature in the high fever are called (a) Insulin (b) Penicillin
(a) antiseptics (b) pyretics (c) Chloroquine (d) Asprin
(c) antibiotics (d) antipyretics
 9. Which of the following is used for inducing sleep? 15. The drug given during hypertension is
(a) Paracetamol (a) streptomycin (b) Chloroxylenol
(b) Chloroquine (c) equanil (d) aspirin
(c) Bithional 16. Which of the following is used as an antiseptic?
(d) Barbituric acid derivatives (a) Phenol (b) Benzaldehyde
10. A broad spectrum antibiotic is (c) Benzalamine (d) Maleic anhydride
(a) Paracetamol (b) Penicillin 17. Betadine is
(c) aspirin (d) Chloramphenicol (a) antiseptic (b) tranquilizer
11. Which of the following is used as a “ morning (c) antibiotic (d) disinfectant
after pill” 18. Which of the following will not enhance
(a) Mifepristone (b) Ethynylestradiol nutritional value of food?
(c) Northindrone (d) Bithional (a) Minerals
12. An ester used as medicine is (b) Artificial sweetners
(a) ethyl acetate (b) methyl acetate (c) Vitamins
(c) methyl salicylate (d) ethyl benzoate (d) Amino acids
13. A drug that is antipyretic as well as analgesic is 19. The safest and most common alternative of sugar
(a) Chloropromazine hydrochloride is
(b) Para-acetamidophenol (a) glucose (b) dulcin
(c) Chloroquine (c) cyclodextrine (d) aspartame
(d) Penicillin 20. One of the mst widely used drug in medicine
iodex is
14. Barbituric acid and its derivatives are will known
as. (a) methyl salicylate
(a) tranquilizers (b) antiseptices (b) ethyl salicylate
(c) analgesics (d) antipyretics (c) acetyl salicylic acid
(d) O-hydroxy benzoic acid

Answer Keys
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (b) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (d)
11. (a) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (a) 15. (c) 16. (a) 17. (a) 18. (c) 19. (d) 20. (a)