Chemistry+Applications+Essay+45

Chemistry Applications Essay

**The Improbable Development of Lithium Drugs **  Almost everyone has tasted the delicious soft drink, 7-Up, but not many know of its original ingredient, lithium. Lithium (Li), an Alkali Metal, is found in nature similar to another Alkali Metal, sodium. Lithium is not likely to be created in a lab due to the difficulty of adding and electron to the Li+ ion. Although, it was first thought to be useless, lithium would prove to have a great significance in modern times.  Lithium was discovered in 1817 and can be found in most igneous rocks. Lithium was soon believed to have magic healing powers and was claimed to be an ingredient in the fountain of youth. C.L. Grigg, who founded 7-Up initially inserted lithium into is beverages, saying that it had several health benefits. Lithium would soon be removed by the FDA after several reports of sick consumers. Shortly after this event, it would be discovered that the lithium ion could cure mental illnesses like Mania and Bipolar disorder. The fact that the lithium ion could prevent or lessen manic episodes was discovered in 1940 by Australian psychiatrist, John Cade. Cade used uric acid, found in urine, on manic animals, to try and treat them. This experiment would be successful; however, it was not the uric acid. The mental illness was being treated by the Li+ ions in the acid which was in the salt lithium urate. Lithium would not be approved as a mental illness drug until 1970 because of severe side effects from overdoses.  In modern times, lithium is distributed to mental patients, most commonly in the drug Eskalith. When distributed in retail, lithium is in the lithium carbonate form. (Li2CO3) Lithium carbonate can be created through the equation Li2SO4 + Na2CO3 → Na2SO4 + Li2CO3. The reactants, lithium sulfate, which is not commonly used as a drug and sodium carbonate, form the products sodium sulfate and lithium carbonate, the drug needed. Lithium carbonate is put into capsules at 150, 300, or 600 milligrams. This capsule is taken orally. Lithium carbonate is a white, light, powdery substance with a molecular weight of 73.89. Another lithium substance, lithium citrate (C6H5Li3O7) can also be used for treating mental illness. It has a molecular weight of 209.92.  Although it is commonly distributed today, lithium can cause severe side effects. A major concern with lithium drugs is lithium toxicity. The dose lithium is distributes in is close to the toxic dose, so fear of side effects is natural. Side effects from lithium include diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, muscular weakness and lack of coordination at early stages and can progress to giddiness, ataxia, blurred vision, tinnitus and a large output of dilute urine may be seen. Still, lithium is highly used for mental patients. Studies have shown that lithium, no doubt works. The way lithium works is still not quite clear, but the results cannot be argued.  With the development of lithium drugs, a new era of treating mental illness has occurred. Lithium ions, usually in the form of Lithium Carbonate, slow and prevent manic outbursts form bipolar disorder. Lithium has a great history and an even better future. Although 7-up is no longer lithiated, lithium still occurs in everyday lives and is bringing about peace in a world filled with mental illness.

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