Alkaline Earth Metals

• Beryllium

  • AKA: Glucinum
  • Beryl (beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate) is also known as Aquamarine
  • Never employed in medicine because it is very toxic
  • Found in fluorescent lamp
• Magnesium

  • Second most abundant intracellular cation
  • Present in the chlorophyll
  • Present in Grignard’s Reagent
• Pharmacologic Effect of Magnesium:

  • Purgative
  • Important in the function of Neuromuscular System
  • Anesthetic action resembling chloroform
• Antidote for Magnesium Toxicity

  Calcium gluconate (Mg-Ca-Away)
• Magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) - Magnesia alba


  Antacid

  Laxative
• Magnesium hydroxide (MgOH2) - Milk of Magnesia/Magnesia Magma

  • Antacid
  • USP requirement: 7 to 8.5% Mg (OH)2
  • ADR: Diarrhea
• Magnesium oxide (MgO) - Magnesia/ Light Magnesia/ Calcined Magnesia

  • Antacid
  • Laxatives
• Component of Universal Antidote

  1. 1 part MgO
  2. 2 parts activated charcoal
  3. 1 part tannic acid
• Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) - Epsom Salt

  • Saline cathartic (Oral)
  • Anticonvulsant (IM)
  • Antidote for Ba toxicity
  • Antiphlogistic
  • Treatment for Torsades de Pointes
• Native Hydrous Magnesium Silicate - (Mg3 Si4O10(OH)2) - Talc/Talcum/ Soapstone/French Chalk

  • Filtering Agent
  • Clarifying Agent
  • Dusting Powder
  • Softest mineral known
• Magnesium citrate (MgC6H6O7) - Limonada Pulgante/Purgative lemon

  Cathartic
• Magnesium in a given volume of solution is precipitated as oxine complex by the addition of a dilute solution of oxine to the ammoniacal solution of the magnesium salt containing ammonium chloride. The mixture is boiled until a yellow precipitate becomes crystalline.
• A few drops of the diphenyl carbazide reagent is added to magnesium hydroxide then the solution is filtered. On washing the precipitate with hot water, it will be seen to have acquired a violet-red color, due to the formation of a complex salt or an adsorption complex.
• Quinalizarin reagent: blue precipitate or cornflower-blue coloration with magnesium salts. The coloration can be readily distinguished from the blue-violet color of the reagent. Upon the addition of a little bromine water, the color disappears.
• The magnesium and beryllium compounds with quinalizarin can be differentiated by the way in which they react with bromine in alkaline solution.
• A phosphate is usually detected by either a magnesia mixture (an aqueous solution of MgCl2, NH4 Cl, and ammonia) or ammonium molybdate reagent. With magnesia mixture, a white crystalline precipitate of magnesium ammonium phosphate is formed that dissolves in acids.
• Magnesia mixture (a solution containing MgC12, NH4Cl, and a little NH3): no precipitate (distinction from arsenate). A similar result is obtained with the magnesium nitrate reagent (a solution containing Mg (NO3)2, NH4NO3, and a little NH3).
• Kieserite

  Native MgSO4
• Calcium

  Second most abundant extracellular cation.
• Calcium is extremely important in the maintenance of certain normal body functions. It is important in:

  • Release of neurotransmitters
  • Cardiac functions
  • Clotting factor IV
  • \Structural basis of skeletons
• Vitamin D is important for Calcium absorption.
• Vitamin D Deficiency:

  • Rickets - children
  • Osteomalacia - adults
• Calcium Deficiency results in:

  • Osteoporosis
  • Hypocalcemia
• Calcium Bromide (CaBr2)

  • CNS Depressant
  • Sedative
• Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) - Limestone/Precipitated Chalk/Marble Calcite

  • Antacid
  • Dentrifice
• Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) - Muriate of Lime

  • Calcium replenisher
  • Electrolyte replenisher
• Calcium Gluconate (CaC12H22O14)

  • Source of calcium
  • Antidote for Mg toxicity
• Calcium Hydroxide (Ca (OH)2) - Milk of Lime/Slaked Lime

  • Antacid
  • Saponifying Agent
  • Added to babies’ formula to prevent curdling of milk
• Calcium Hypochlorite (Ca (ClO)2) - Chloride of Lime/Chlorinated Lime

  • Disinfectant
  • Bleaching Agent
• Calcium Lactate (CaC6H10O6)

  Calcium supplement
• Calcium oxide (CaO) - Lime/Quick lime


  Ingredient in Bordeaux Mixture
• Calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) - Bone Ash

  Antacid
• Calcium sulfate (CaSO4 or CaSO4 ∙ H2O)

  • Plaster of Paris (CaSO4 ∙ ½ H2O)
  • Gypsum (CaSO4 ∙ 2 H2O)
• Calcium Sulfate


  Surgical dust
• Sulfurated Lime Solution (Sublimed sulfur CaO) - Vleminckx Solution/Lotion

  Sublimed sulfur + Calcium oxide
• Strontium

  • AKA: Brass yellow metal
  • Use: Red fireworks
  • Radioactive strontium is used as bone scanner
• Strontium Bromide (SrBr2)

  Sedative
• Strontium Chloride (SrCl2) - Sensodyne

  Temperature desensitizing agent
• Barium

  • AKA: Heavy
  • Toxicity: Baritosis
  • Antidote: Epsom salt (MgSO4)
• Iothalamate Meglumine

  Contrast media