IBDP Official Exam Material
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Topic D: Medicinal Chemistry
For both SL and HL students
1a. [2 marks]
Consider the structures of medicinal molecules in section 37 of the data booklet.
Name two functional groups that both zanamivir and oseltamivir contain.
1b. [2 marks]
Explain how zanamivir works as a preventative agent against flu viruses.
1c. [1 mark]
Circle the side-chain in penicillin on the structure below.
1d. [2 marks]
Explain, with reference to the action of penicillin, why new penicillins with different side-chains need to be produced.
1e. [2 marks]
State and explain the relative solubility of codeine in water compared to morphine and diamorphine.
1f. [1 mark]
State the natural source from which codeine, morphine and diamorphine are obtained.
2a. [2 marks]
Codeine, morphine and diamorphine (heroin) are derived from opium.
State the names of two functional groups present in all three molecules, using section 37 of the data booklet.
2b. [3 marks]
Explain why diamorphine has greater potency than morphine.
3a. [1 mark]
Body fluids have different pH values.
Identify the compound responsible for the acidity of gastric juice, and state whether it is a strong or weak acid.
3b. [1 mark]
An antacid contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
Write the equation for the reaction of magnesium carbonate with excess stomach acid.
3c. [1 mark]
Outline how ranitidine reduces stomach acidity.
3d. [1 mark]
Calculate the pH of a buffer solution which contains 0.20 mol dm−3 ethanoic acid and 0.50 mol dm−3 sodium ethanoate. Use section 1 of the data booklet.
4a. [1 mark]
Infectious diseases can be caused by bacteria or viruses.
State one difference between bacteria and viruses.
4b. [2 marks]
Discuss two difficulties, apart from socio-economic factors, associated with finding a cure for AIDS.
4c. [3 marks]
The discovery of penicillins contributed to the development of antibiotics.
Explain how the beta-lactam ring is responsible for the antibiotic properties of penicillin. Refer to section 37 of the data booklet.
5a. [1 mark]
Disposal of chemical waste is a growing problem in industry.
Outline the impact of antibiotic waste on the environment.
5b. [1 mark]
Suggest a concern about the disposal of solvents from drug manufacturing.
6a. [1 mark]
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections have been successfully treated with penicillin and penicillin derivatives.
Identify the feature in penicillin responsible for its antibiotic activity.
6b. [1 mark]
The widespread use of penicillin and its derivatives has led to the appearance of resistant S. aureus strains.
Outline how these bacteria inactivate the antibiotics.
6c. [1 mark]
Outline how the structure of penicillin has been modified to overcome this resistance.
7a. [1 mark]
Mild heartburn is treated with antacids such as calcium carbonate.
Formulate an equation for the neutralization of stomach acid with calcium carbonate, CaCO3 (s).
7b. [2 marks]
Determine the volume of CO2 (g), in dm3, produced at STP, when 1.00 g of CaCO3 (s) reacts completely with stomach acid.
Mr CaCO3 = 100.09
7c. [2 marks]
Acid secretion can be regulated by other types of drugs such as omeprazole and ranitidine. Outline how each of these drugs acts to reduce excess stomach acid.
Omeprazole:
Ranitidine:
8a. [2 marks]
Opium and its derivatives have been used for thousands of years as strong analgesics.
Explain how opiates act to provide pain relief.
8b. [2 marks]
Discuss how the difference in structure of two opiates, codeine and morphine, affect their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Use section 37 of the data booklet.
9a. [1 mark]
Most of the nuclear waste generated in a hospital is low-level waste (LLW).
Outline what is meant by low-level waste.
9b. [1 mark]
Outline the disposal of LLW.
10a. [2 marks]
Medicines and drugs are tested for effectiveness and safety.
Distinguish between therapeutic window and therapeutic index in humans.
Therapeutic window:
Therapeutic index:
10b. [1 mark]
State one advantage of using morphine as an analgesic.
10c. [2 marks]
Explain why diamorphine (heroin) is more potent than morphine using section 37 of the data booklet.
11a. [1 mark]
Excess acid in the stomach can cause breakdown of the stomach lining.
Outline how ranitidine (Zantac) inhibits stomach acid production.
Markscheme
blocks/binds H2/histamine receptors «in cells of stomach lining»
OR
prevents histamine molecules binding to H2/histamine receptors «and triggering acid secretion» [✔]
OR
prevents histamine molecules binding to H2/histamine receptors «and triggering acid secretion» [✔]
11b. [2 marks]
Outline two advantages of taking ranitidine instead of an antacid which neutralizes excess acid.
11c. [1 mark]
Some antacids contain carbonates.
Determine the pH of a buffer solution which contains 0.160 mol dm−3 CO32− and 0.200 mol dm−3 HCO3−, using section 1 of the data booklet.
pKa (HCO3−) = 10.32
12a. [1 mark]
Antiviral medications have recently been developed for some viral infections.
Outline one way in which antiviral drugs work.
12b. [2 marks]
Discuss two difficulties associated with solving the AIDS problem.
13a. [2 marks]
Opiates are strong analgesics.
Explain why diamorphine (heroin) crosses the blood–brain barrier more easily than morphine.
13b. [1 mark]
Describe the analgesic action of an opiate.
13c. [1 mark]
Outline the meaning of the bioavailability of a drug.
14a. [2 marks]
Buffer systems control pH in the body.
Determine the pH of a buffer solution that is 0.0100 mol dm−3 sodium hydrogen carbonate and 0.0200 mol dm−3 sodium carbonate, using section 1 of the data booklet.
Ka (hydrogen carbonate ion) = 4.8 × 10−11
14b. [1 mark]
State the equation for the reaction of calcium carbonate, the active ingredient in some antacids, with stomach acid.
14c. [1 mark]
Suggest a technique for measuring the percentage mass of calcium carbonate in this type of antacid tablet.
15a. [1 mark]
Viruses and bacteria both cause diseases and are frequently confused.
State one way in which viruses differ from bacteria.
15b. [2 marks]
Outline two different ways in which antiviral medications work.
17. [2 marks]
Suggest two reasons why chlorinated solvents should neither be released into the atmosphere nor incinerated (burnt).
18a. [1 mark]
Many drugs, including aspirin, penicillin, codeine and taxol, have been modified from compounds that occur naturally.
Aspirin is often taken to reduce pain, swelling or fever. State one other use of aspirin.
18b. [1 mark]
State what is meant by the bioavailability of a drug.
18c. [1 mark]
Outline how the bioavailability of aspirin may be increased.
19. [2 marks]
Morphine and diamorphine (heroin) are both opioids.
Explain why diamorphine is more potent than morphine using section 37 of the data booklet.
20a. [1 mark]
Excess acid in the stomach is often treated with calcium carbonate.
Formulate a chemical equation for the neutralization of stomach acid with calcium carbonate.
20b. [1 mark]
Calculate the amount, in mol, of stomach acid neutralized by an antacid tablet containing 0.750 g calcium carbonate.
20c. [2 marks]
Explain how omeprazole (Prilosec) regulates pH in the stomach.
If you need the markscheme, including the examiners' reports for each question, and more exam and teaching materials on this topic, contact me through the contact page