Ann Charmaine C.
Santos Pharmaceutical Chemistry 121 Reviewer
WATER
(Beringer, 2005, p380-381)
Water
1. Omnipresent
-75% of earth’s surface is covered with liquid water
-water vapor: an important constituent of earth’s
atmosphere
-occurs abundantly in many minerals in combined
form such as gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O)
-occurs in all animal and vegetable tissues
-constitutes 70% of the human body and over 90%
of vegetables (cucumbers and watermelons)
2. Distinguished from other covalent hydrides due to its
strong H-bonds existing between adjacent
molecules which gives it unique properties
-2 protons are available per molecule
3. Unique physical properties
-liquid under normal conditions (other covalent
hydrides are gases)
-high absolute value of heat of fusion, melting
point, heat of vaporization and boiling point,
specific heat, surface tension, viscosity and
dielectric constant compared with other covalent
hydrides
4. Chemically stable compound
-excellent solvent for ionic compounds (universal
solvent) because of small size, strong permanent
dipole, high dielectric constant ang availability of
protons for H-bonding
-acts as ligand
-acid or base
-oxidizing or reducing agent
-catalyst
A. Natural or Mineral Waters
-contain:
-dissolved minerals indigenous to the
region (in ppm levels: Ca+2, Mg+2, Fe+3, Na+,
K+, HC3-, SO4-2, Cl-),
-varying amounts of suspended matter
(clay, sand, microorganisms, fragments of plants
and animals),
-and traces of dissolved atmospheric
gases, ammonia, and metabolic decomposition
products
-waters in inhabited areas often include
dissolved minerals such as nitrate, phosphate,
and organic compounds from homes, industry
and farms
*Alkaline Waters – Na2SO4, MgSO4, together with
NaHCO3
*Carbonated Waters – charged with CO2 under
pressure and usually effervesce
on coming to the surface
- contain calcium and magnesium
carbonates in solution as
bicarbonate
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*Chalybeate Waters – iron in solution or in suspension
- ferruginous taste
- forms ferric hydroxide or ferric
oxide upon exposure to air
(brown ppt)
*Lithia Waters – do not contain appreciable quantities
of lithium, either as carbonate or
chloride (Li -mood stabilizing property)
*Saline Waters – purgative waters (induce bowel
movement)
- contain high amounts of MgSO4 and
Na2SO4 with NaCl (non-absorbable
in the purging; osmotic effect)
*Sulfur Waters – contains dissolved H2S and deposit S
upon exposure to atmosphere (rotten
egg smell)
*Siliceous Waters – Water that contain soluble alkali
silicates
Mineral Water
Mineralized Water- water that has gone processing and
then addition of ions.
B. Potable Water
- fit to drink
- meets standard for freedom from coliform
organisms (Escherichia Coli –cause dysentery)
- water treated to remove insoluble matter through
appropriate coagulation, settling, and filtering
processes; destruction of pathogenic
microorganisms by aeration, chlorination, or other
methods, and improvement of palatability through
aeration and filtration through charcoal
-activated charcoal removes some harmful trace
impurities(trihalomethanes) not removed or
destroyed by previous operations
-ions give water palatability
-presence of dissolved minerals confers Hardness
to water (temporary/permanent)
-fluoridation of water is achieved by addition of
sodium fluorosilicate
-soft water (dependent on mineral)
-bicarbonate- soft
-sulfates – hard (Ca2+, Mg2+, CO3-2, SO4-2)
Soaps –alkali salts of high MW fatty acid
- from plant oil, coconut, palm, olive
Soft soap/ liquid soap:KOH /NaOH(hardsoap) –
saponifying agent
Glycerol; Na palmitate, stearate; myristate
-side product of soap
Hardness of Water and its implications:
Temporary:
Caused by the presence of soluble calcium or
magnesium bicarbonates in water
Bicarbonates are formed by the action of water charged
with carbon dioxide percolating through limestone
deposits
CaCO3 + H2O +CO2  Ca(HCO3)2
Permanent:
Ann Charmaine C. Santos Pharmaceutical Chemistry 121 Reviewer
Caused by the presence of soluble sulfates, chlorides, or
hydroxides of Calcium and/or Magnesium
Hard H2O with Ca2+ and Mg2+ + soap  form insoluble
Curd (ppt reaction)
Soap- emulsify fat be mycelle formation
- with hydrophilic/phobic part (dirt/filth)
Removal of temporary and permanent hardness
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*Sterile Water for Inhalation, USP
>comply with requirements for sterile water for injection
but it is not pyrogen-free
>not intended for parenteral administration
*Sterile Water for Injection, USP
>water for injection sterilized and suitably packaged
>contains no antimicrobial agents
>stored in single-dose containers of not larger than 1L
size

*Sterile Water for Irrigation, USP

>meets the requirements for sterile water for injection
and complies with sterility requirements for sterile
water for injection
>single-dose preparation administered in large volumes
used for cleansing purposes

*Water O 15 Injection, USP –isotope

>radiopharmaceuticals

C. Purified Water: antacid – sweet; minty (tablet)

- water rendered free from microorganisms
- boil for 15 to 20 minutes or treat with Halazone or D. Heavy Water
iodine (emergency) >Deuterium Oxide, D2O
Water Purification: -occurs in ordinary water in few ppm
-involves removal of dissolved slids -B.p. 101.4ºC, sp.gr. 1.10
-ion-exchange and reverse osmosis are effective -no known therapeutic role
in removing electrolytes -use of D2O for drinking led to retardation and stunted
-distillation is not effective in removal of weak growth in laboratory animals
electrolytes and nonelectrolytes if they are -currently used as a solvent for NMR studies
volatile -nuclear magnetic resonance

Official Waters:
- pharmaceutically important due to its solvent
powers and physiological inertness
*Purified Water, USP
>water prepared by distillation, ion-exchange (deionized,
demineralized), reverse osmosis (membrane filter less
than 0.0001 microns), or other methods
>potable water is used in preparation of P.water
>may be rendered sterile and pyrogen-free by repeated
distillation
>reverse osmosis will remove bacteria, viruses, organic
compounds with MW 300-1000, ions, and pyrogens
>not intended for parenteral administration

*Sterile Purified Water, USP

*Water for Injection, USP

>pyrogen-free
>used as solvent for parenteral products

*Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP

>sterile water for injection with one or more suitable
antimicrobial agents have been added
>stored in single or multiple dose containers with volume
not to exceed 30ml
>not to be used for intravenous injection, only for
intramuscular administration