States of matter and physical behaviours

• How are molecules in the solid state described in terms of their movement?

  They vibrate around a fixed position
• What allows molecules in the liquid state to change their positions?

  Kinetic energy is sufficiently high
• What are solids and liquids referred to due to their strong intermolecular interactions?

  Condensed states of matter
• What term is used for substances that can change their positions?

  Fluid matter
• What happens to a solid when it is heated?

  It transforms into a liquid and then gas
• What does heating increase in a substance?

  Enthalpy (ΔH)
• What is the relationship between Gibbs free energy and states of matter?

  It desires highest entropy and lowest enthalpy
• What is a characteristic of solids regarding their volume and shape?

  Defined volume and keeps its shape
• Why are solids difficult to compress?

  They have fixed positions with no diffusion
• What is the melting point (MP) of paracetamol?

  169ºC
• What is the heat of fusion related to in solids?

  Increasing interatomic or intermolecular distance
• What is the melting point of caffeine?

  238ºC
• How does a liquid behave in terms of volume and shape?

  Defined volume but takes the shape of the container
• What is an example of a liquid mentioned in the study material?

  Water
• What characterizes semi-solids?

  Exhibit characteristics of solids and liquids
• What is the definition of gases in terms of volume and shape?

  No fixed volume or shape
• What is the relationship between gas motion and pressure?

  Collisions with container walls create pressure
• What is the equilibrium vapour pressure?

  Pressure when condensation equals vapourisation
• What is a vapour?

  Gaseous form of a substance in liquid/solid form
• What does high vapour pressure indicate?

  High propensity to evaporate
• What are the applications of vapours in pharmaceutical science?

  • Fragrance in spirits
  • Propellant in inhalers
  • Therapeutic applications like decongestants and cough suppressants
• What is boiling point (BP) indicative of?

  Magnitude of attractive forces in liquids
• What are mesophases?

  States between liquid and crystalline
• What are the two key types of mesophases?

  Smectic and nematic
• What is plasma?

  Ionised gas, distinct fourth phase of matter
• What characterizes a drug in terms of states of matter?

  It may exist in any of the three states
• What are the different dosage forms and dispersions of drugs?

  • 1 phase: tablet, solution
  • 2 phases: solid in liquid suspension, gas in liquid, gas in solid, liquid in gas
  • 3 phases: solid in liquid in gas
• What is the melting point of NaCl?

  801ºC
• What is the boiling point of ethanol?

  78ºC
• What is the physical description of aspirin?

  Odorless, colorless, transparent crystals
• What happens to ferrous sulphate in moist air?

  Rapidly oxidizes and coats with ferric sulphate
• What is the physical description of glucose?

  White powder with a sweet taste
• What is the characteristic of castor oil?

  Stable and does not turn rancid easily
• What is the physical description of diazepam?

  Off-white to yellow crystalline powder
• What is the physical description of white soft paraffin?

  Semi-solid, viscous, unctuous mass
• What are the sources of information for physical properties?

  • Merck Index
  • PubChem
  • Chemical suppliers (Sigma Aldrich)
  • Pharmaceutical excipients
  • Remington's Science and Practice of Pharmacy
  • National Chemical Database Service
  • Drug Bank
  • Manufacturers
• What is the boiling point of ferrous sulphate?

  Not specified