1. Lewis acid/base theory defines acids as an electron-pair acceptor while a base is an electron-pair donor. The theory also explains acids and bases as either hard or soft. Hard acids/bases have ionic bonding whereby hard acids form hard metal ions. Similarly, soft acids/bases combine through covalent bonding whereby soft acids form soft metal ions (LoPachin et al., 2011). Moreover, hard acids/bases have a high charge where acids possess positive charge, while bases possess a negative charge. Soft acids/bases have a low charge and low oxidation rates that hard acids/bases. Therefore, the ionic bonding is evident in various substances, such as hard acids (Hydrogen ion (H+), Sodium ion (Na+)) and soft acids as Titanium ion (TI+).
Soft acids/bases are large and polarize easily when bonding, which makes them toxic. Soft components have a strong interaction, which produces a toxic substance. Moreover, the toxicity of the soft acids/bases is based on the availability electron-pair donor and acceptor. Therefore, the combination of soft acids with soft bases will produce a toxic substance that can have a negative impact on chemistry. The combination of soft acids and bases are accelerated by the relative polarizability, which makes the substances toxic (LoPachin et al., 2011). Examples of toxic soft acids/bases include Acrolein, which is a colorless liquid with choking smell and methyl vinyl ketone also a colorless and highly toxic flammable liquid.
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2. The procedure of chelation therapy involves the administration of chelation agents such as ethylenediamine, Exjade, Chemet, Desferal, Ferriprox, Penicillamine, and Dimercaptosuccinic acid to a patient infected with metal ions in the body. The chelation agents are selectively chosen based on the side effects to the patient. For instance, some chelation agents such as Exjade could affect a pregnant or a breastfeeding woman. The making of an effective chelation agent depends on the ability of the agent in binding the metals in the blood system (Kosnett, 2013). Moreover, the chelation agents must have high selectivity in bonding with the metal ions such as mercury in the body whereby after the injection of the chelation agent, the substance will collect and bind all the metal ion particles removing them from the bloodstream.
Some of the factors to consider while administering chelation agents in a body are the ability to secrete the substances after removing mercury. For instance, Dimercaprol is a chelation agent used in removing mercury substances in the body. The agent can be excreted in urine and bile after the process. Similarly, a chelation agent must be consumable and corresponds to the health standards. Moreover, the chelation agents used in treating mercury has a higher therapeutic index than the mercury components offering chances of inhibiting the circulation of the metal ions towards the brain which would increase chances mortality (Kosnett, 2013). Therefore, chelation agents accelerate the excretion of metal components from the bloodstream hence; increasing chances of living.
3. Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme that helps in converting or reversing the production of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate ion. The enzyme helps in both reactions hence known as a catalyst. However, carbon anhydrases use another component of zinc enzymes, which is also essential in the reversing process (Rowlett, 2010). The zinc enzyme in the carbon anhydrases enhances the attack of the carbon dioxide group as well as maintaining a balanced level of pH. Moreover, the zinc enzyme acts as a base or acid at different intervals hence increasing the catalytic rate in the overall process.
Additionally, the enzymatic reaction can be expressed by understanding the levels of acidity level. For example, zinc enzyme lowers the acidity (pKa) level of the water which will enhance the production of hydroxide ion through the generated protons from the water. In addition, the pH level decreases with the decrease of pKa level, which will promote deprotonation. The hydroxide ion generated converts the carbon dioxide into bicarbonate ion hence the released oxygen molecules combines with the zinc metal hence; the process recurs repeatedly. Cadmium can also be used in place of zinc but is usually found in marine organisms (Rowlett, 2010). However, using cadmium is evident in marine organisms where the level of carbon dioxide is limited hence; cadmium facilitates carbonic anhydrases process in oceans and other aqua life.
- LoPachin, R. M., Gavin, T., DeCaprio, A., & Barber, D. S. (2011). Application of the hard and soft, acids and bases (HSAB) theory to toxicant–target interactions. Chemical research in toxicology, 25(2), 239-251.
- Rowlett, R. S. (2010). Structure and catalytic mechanism of the β-carbonic anhydrases. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Proteins and Proteomics, 1804(2), 362-373.
- Kosnett, M. J. (2013, December). The role of chelation in the treatment of arsenic and mercury poisoning. In Journal of Medical Toxicology (Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 347-354). Springer US.
