Maricopa Community Colleges  MSP204   19962-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 11/28/95
MSP204 19962-99999 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Chemistry for Funeral Service
Basic principles of chemistry related to funeral service. Chemical principles of embalming, disinfection and public health. Sanitation practices regarding potentially harmful chemicals. Prerequisites: Admission to the Mortuary Science Program.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
MSP204   19962-99999 Chemistry for Funeral Service
1. Explain selected facts of general chemistry as a basis for studying organic and biochemistry. (I, II, III, IV, V)
2. Identify the characteristic features of solutions, suspensions, emulsions and the processes of diffusion. (I)
3. Define organic chemistry, and describe the characteristic features of organic compounds. (II)
4. List and describe the essential characteristics of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in the area of basic biochemistry. (III)
5. List the essential characteristics of autolysis, hydrolysis, fermentation, and putrefaction in the area of the chemistry of decomposition. (IV)
6. Identify representative chemicals in embalming fluids (arterial, cavity and accessory) and explain their respective functions. (IV)
7. List the potentially harmful chemicals used in the preparation room, and describe the precautions to be taken with each. (V)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
MSP204   19962-99999 Chemistry for Funeral Service
    I. General Chemistry
        A. Definition of chemistry
        B. Divisions of chemistry
          1. Inorganic
          2. Organic
          3. Biochemistry
          4. Embalming chemistry
        C. Chemical measurements metric system
          1. Length meter
          2. Volume liter
          3. Mass kilogram
          4. Heat calorie (small c)
        D. Matter
          1. Properties
            a. Physical
          1. State of matter
          2. Solubility
          3. Density
          4. Specific gravity
            b. Chemical
          2. Changes in matter
            a. Physical
          1. Changes in state
          2. Solvation (dissolving)
            b. Chemical
          1. Cremation
          2. Decomposition
          3. Embalming
        E. Physical states of matter
          1. Gases
            a. Properties
            b. Liquefaction
            c. Condensation
            d. Vaporization
            e. Diffusion
          2. Liquids
            a. Properties
            b. Viscosity
            c. Surface tension
            d. Diffusion
            e. Solidification
            f. Crystallization
            g. Freezing
            h. Boiling
          3. Solids
            a. Properties
            b. Melting
            c. Sublimation
        F. Types of matter based upon composition
          1. Elements
            a. Names
            b. Symbols
          2. Compounds
            a. Formula
            b. Acids
            c. Bases
            d. Salts
            e. Oxides
          3. Mixture
            a. Air
            b. Embalming fluid
            c. Blood
        G. Energy
          1. Potential
          2. Kinetic
        H. Atom
        I. Molecule
        J. Oxidation number
        K. Selected elements and their symbols
          1. Aluminum (Al)
          2. Bromine (Br)
          3. Calcium (Ca)
          4. Carbon (C)
          5. Chlorine (Cl)
          6. Copper (Cu)
          7. Fluorine (F)
          8. Helium (He)
          9. Hydrogen (H)
          10. Iodine (I)
          11. Iron (Fe)
          12. Mercury (Hg)
          13. Nitrogen (N)
          14. Oxygen (O)
          15. Phosphorus (P)
          16. Potassium (K)
          17. Sodium (Na)
          18. Sulfur (S)
        L. Monatomic ions
        M. Selected polyatomic ions and their formulas
          1. Ammonium (NH4+1)
          2. Bicarbonate (HCO3+2)
          3. Carbonate (CO3-2)
          4. Cyanide (CN-1)
          5. Hydroxide (OH-1)
          6. Hypochlorite (OC1-1)
          7. Nitrite (NO2-1)
          8. Nitrate (NO3-1)
          9. Phosaphate (PO4-3)
          10. Sulfate (SO4-2)
        N. Solutions
          1. Solute
          2. Solvent
          3. Types of solution
            a. True solution (crystalloid)
            b. Colloid
            c. Suspension
          4. Expressing concentrations
            a. Qualitatively
          1. Dilute
          2. Concentrated
          3. Saturated
          4. Unsaturated
            b. Quantitatively
          1. Percent by weight and by volume
          2. Ratios (1: 1000)
          5. Diffusion
            a. Factors influencing diffusion
          1. Temperature
          2. Concentration of solute
          3. Size of molecular weight of solute
          4. Agitation
            b. Osmosis
          1. Hypotonic
          2. Hypertonic
          3. Isotonic
          6. Solubility
        O. Study of selected elements
          1. Oxygen (occurrence)
            a. Oxidation
            b. Reduction
            c. Combustion
          2. Hydrogen (occurrence)
          3. Halogens
            a. Chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine
            b. Relationship as a chemical family
            c. Chlorine as a bleaching agent
          4. Nitrogen (occurrence)
          5. Others
            a. Metal
            b. Nonmetal
        P. Selected compounds
          1. Water (occurrence)
            a. Hardness
            b. Hydrates
            c. Hydrolysis
            d. Dehydration
          2. Ammonia (NH3)
            a. Decomposition products of proteins
            b. Neutralization with formaldehyde
        Q. Ionization
          1. Acids
          2. Bases
          3. Salts
          4. Cation
          5. Anion
          6. pH
          7. Neutralization
      II. Organic Chemistry
          A. Organic and inorganic compounds
          B. Properties of carbon
            1. Combining capacity
            2. Carbon-carbon bond
            3. Isomerism
          C. Formulas in organic chemistry
            1. Molecular formulas
            2. Structural formulas
            3. Line formulas
            4. General formulas
            5. Type formulas
          D. Classes of compounds
            1. Hydrocarbons
              a. Saturated
                (1). Alkane
                  (a). Type formula: (CnH2n+2)
                  (b). Examples
              i. Methane
            ii. Ethane
            iii. Propane
                (2). Alkyl group
                (3). Alkyl halide
              b. Unsaturated
                (1). Alkenes
                  (a). Type formula: (CnH2n)
                  (b). Example: ethene
                (2). Alkynes
                  (a). Type formula: (CnH2n-2)
                  (b). Example: ethyne
              c. Aromatic
                (1). Benzene
                (2). Toluene
            2. Alcohols
              a. General formula R-OH
              b. Classification of alcohols according to the number of OH groups
                (1). Monohydroxy alcohol
                  (a). Primary
              i. Methanol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol
            ii. Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol
                  (b). Secondary: isopropyl alcohol
                (2). Dihydroxy alcohols: Ethylene Glycol
                (3). Trihydroxy alcohols: Glycerol
                (4). Polyhydroxy alcohols: Sorbitol
              c. Phenol or carbolic acid
            3. Aldehydes
              a. General formula R-CHO
              b. Methanal (formaldehyde)
                (1). Formula HCHO
                (2). Preparation: word equation
                (3). Properties
                  (a). Colorless gas
                  (b). Irritating odor
                  (c). Soluble in water
                  (d). Readily oxidized to formic acid
                  (e). Polymerization to paraformaldehyde (paraform)
                  (f). Index
                (4). Uses of formaldehyde
                  (a). Disinfectant
                  (b). Preservative
                (5). Formalin
                  (a). 37% by weight
                  (b). 40% by volume
              c. Ethanal (acetaldehyde)
              d. Benzaldehyde
              e. Dialdehydes
                (1). Glyoxal
                (2). Glutaraldehyde
            4. Ketone
              a. General formula R-CO-R'
              b. Propanone (acetone)
            5. Carboxylic Acids (organic acids)
              a. General formula R-COOH
              b. Methanoic (formic acid)
              c. Ethanoic (acetic acid)
            6. Esters
              a. General formula R-COO-R'
              b. Examples
                (1). Ethyl acetate
                (2). Methyl salicylate
            7. Ethers
              a. General formula R-O-R'
              b. Diethyl ether
            8. Amines
              a. General formula R-NH2 (primary)
              b. Properties
                (1). Alkaline in solution
                (2). Disagreeable odor
                (3). Decomposition products of protein
              c. Reaction with formaldehyde
              d. Example: methyl amine
              e. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
            9. Amides
              a. General formula R-CONH-R'
              b. Examples
                (1). Diethyl formamide
                (2). Urea
            10. Thiols (thioalcohols or mercaptans)
              a. General formula R-SH
              b. Disulfides R-S-S-R'
        III. Biochemistry
            A. Carbohydrates
              1. Classification
                a. Monosaccharides
                  (1). Aldose
                  (2). Ketose
                  (3). Pentose
                  (4). Hexose
                    (a). Glucose
                    (b). Fructose
                b. Disaccharides
                  (1). Sucrose
                  (2). Lactose
                c. Polysaccharides
                  (1). Starch
                  (2). Glycogen
                  (3). Cellulose
              2. Reactions of carbohydrates
                a. Final hydrolysis products
                b. Fermentation
            B. Lipids
              1. Simple lipids
                a. Fats and oils
                  (1). Physical properties
                    (a). Solubility: emulsification
                    (b). Physical state
                  (2). Chemical changes
                    (a). Final hydrolysis products
                    (b). Saponification: adipocere
                b. Waxes
              2. Compound lipids
            C. Proteins
              1. Amino acids
                a. Glycine
                b. Properties of amino acids
                  (1). Amphoteric
                  (2). Buffers
              2. Peptide bond
              3. Properties of proteins
                a. Imbibition
                b. Coagulation
                c. Final hydrolysis products
                d. Deamination
                e. Decarboxylation
              4. Enzymes
                a. Substrate
                b. Chemical properties
                  (1). Protein constitution
                  (2). Specificity
                  (3). Effect of temperature
                  (4). Chemically labile (denaturation)
                c. Autolysis
          IV. Embalming Chemistry
              A. Actions of preservative chemicals
                1. Inactivates chemical groups of proteins or amino acids
                2. Inhibits further decomposition
                3. Inactivates enzymes
                4. Kills microorganisms
                5. Destroys odors and eliminates further production
              B. Preservation by formaldehyde
                1. Reactions of formaldehyde with:
                  a. Water (exists as methylene glycol in water)
                  b. Methanol
                  c. Amino acids
                  d. Proteins
                2. Chemistry of formaldehyde preserved tissue
                  a. Protein bonding before and after embalming
                  b. Reversibility (in presence of an abundance of water)
                  c. Cross-linking action
                3. Formaldehyde demand
                4. Searing of tissue caused by formaldehyde
              C. Embalming fluids: basic types
                1. Arterial fluid (components and functions)
                  a. Preservatives
                    (1). Aldehydes
                    (2). Alcohols
                    (3). Phenolic compounds
                  b. Supplementary germicides
                    (1). Quaternary ammonium compounds
                    (2). Glutaraldehyde
                  c. Modifying agents
                    (1). Humectants
                      (a). Glycerol
                      (b). Sorbitol
                      (c). Glycols
                      (d). Lanolins
                    (2). Buffers
                      (a). Borax
                      (b). Sodium phosphate
                      (c). Citrates
                      (d). Sodium salt of EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid)
                    (3). Water conditioning agents (anticoagulants)
                      (a). Sodium citrate
                      (b). Sodium salt of EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid)
                    (4). Surfactants or surface active agents
                      (a). Sulfonates
                      (b). Sodium lauryl sulfate
                  d. Dyes
                    (1). Eosine
                    (2). Ponceau red
                    (3). Erythrosine
                  e. Deodorants (perfuming materials, masking agents)
                    (1). Benzaldehyde
                    (2). Oil of cloves
                    (3). Oil of sassafras
                    (4). Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen)
                  f. Vehicles
                    (1). Water
                    (2). Alcohols
                2. Cavity fluid (components and functions)
                  a. Preservatives
                    (1). Aldehydes
                    (2). Alcohols
                    (3). Phenolic compounds
                  b. Supplementary germicides
                    (1). Quaternary ammonium compounds
                    (2). Glutaraldehyde
                  c. Surfactants or surface active agents
                    (1). Sulfonates
                    (2). Sodium lauryl sulfate
                  d. Vehicles
                    (1). Water
                    (2). Alcohols
                3. Accessory fluids
                  a. Pre-injection
                    (1). Water conditioning agents
                    (2). Surfactants
                    (3). Anticoagulants
                    (4). Humectants
                    (5). Low concentration preservatives
                  b. Co-injection
                  c. Restorative fluids
                  d. Fluids for special conditions
                    (1). Jaundice fluid
                    (2). High-index fluid
                4. Autopsy chemicals
                  a. Solids (hardening compounds)
                    (1). Paraformaldehyde (preservative)
                    (2). Aluminum chloride (dehydrating agent)
                  b. Liquid (gel) preparations
                5. Factors influencing stability of fluids
                  a. Temperature (extremes)
                  b. Time (2-5 years)
                  c. Methanol as an antipolymerization agent for formaldehyde
                  d. pH
                  e. Light
                    (1). Related to color (oxidation of fluid components)
                    (2). Related to polymerization
              D. Chemistry of decomposition
                1. Autolysis
                2. Hydrolysis
                3. Putrefaction
                4. Decay
            V. Potentially Hazardous Chemicals Used in Funeral Service
                A. Poison
                B. Toxin
                C. LD-50 (lethal dose-50 percent)
                D. MLD (minimum lethal dose)
                E. Examples
                  1. Acetone
                  2. Alcohols
                  3. Alkyl halides
                  4. Amaranth (red dye Number 2)
                  5. Amitrole
                  6. Ammonia
                  7. Camphor
                  8. Cresol
                  9. Dichlorophene
                  10. Diethanol amine
                  11. Diethy formamide
                  12. Ethyl acetate
                  13. EDTA
                  14. Formaldehyde
                  15. Formic acid
                  16. Glutaraldehyde
                  17. Glycols
                  18. Hypochlorites
                  19. Isobutane
                  20. Methyl ethyl ketone
                  21. Mineral spirits
                  22. Nitrocellulose
                  23. Orthodichlorobenzene
                  24. Oxalic acid
                  25. Paradichlorobenzene
                  26. Paraformaldehyde
                  27. Phenol/phenolic compounds
                  28. Plaster of Paris
                  29. Propane
                  30. Quartz
                  31. Quaternary ammonium compounds
                  32. Talc
                  33. Toluene
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