CLASS / FUNCTION TERMS Flashcards
(41 cards)
Abrasives
Topical use only
Removes unwanted tissue or foreign materials from body surfaces.
As a rule, abrasives, irregularly shaped fine or coarse solids.
Ex: harder abrasives, for example hydrated silica, are used for tooth cleansing, while softer abrasives such as oatmeal are used to remove skin surface cells that have not completed the normal desquamating process. 
Acidulant
Acidifying agents
Used in liquid preparation to provide acidic medium for product stability
Ex: lactic acid, hydrochloric acid
Accelerator
A substance that speeds up or accelerates a chemical reaction
Active ingredient
The ingredient that is responsible for producing the desired effect of a mixture of ingredients and forgiving the product its main characteristic.
They may be proteins, vitamins, botanical extracts, etc. The active ingredient is not necessarily the most common ingredient in a product.
Adsorbents
Ingredients, are usually solids, with a large surface area, which can attract dissolved, or finally dispersed substances from another medium by physical or chemical means.
Ex: bentonite, cellulose 
Air displacement agents
Substances employed to displace air in a hermetically sealed container to enhance product stability.
Used in aseptic packaging.
Ex: nitrogen, carbon dioxide 
Alcohol
An alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group, 
The names of various alcohols, a characterized by the suffix – OL, on the end of the name.
Ethanol is an example of a simple alcohol, with the octyl Dodecanol an example of a fatty alcohol. Benzyl alcohol is widely used. Aromatic alcohol.
Alkali
The term alkaline describes any substance with a pH greater than 7.0
a substance with a pH of 14 is considered highly alkaline, and a pH of 7.1 minimally alkaline. 
Alkalizing agents
Substances used in liquid preparation to provide alkaline medium for product stability.
Ex: diethanolamine, potassium, citrate 
Amino acid
The basic building block of protein
All amino acids contain an amino (NH2) end, a carboxyl end (COOH) and side group (R).
In proteins, amino acids are joined together when the NH2 group of one forms, a bond with the COOH group of the adjacent amino acid.
The side group is what distinguishes each of the amino acids from the others.
Anticaking agent
Ingredients used to prevent the agglomeration of a particulate solid into lumps or cohesive cakes.
Ex: calcium phosphate tribasic, talc, 
Anticoagulants
Substances used to prevent ingredients from changing from a fluid state to a more or less solid state.
Ex: edetic acid, EDTA
Anti-foaming agent
(Anti-foams)
Chemicals which reduce the tendency of finished products to generate foam on shaking or agitation.
The ability to control foaming is important during the mixing and filling of products, and in those products which should not phone during consumer use
The absence of foam provides the consumer with air free products and facilitates maintenance of consistent field weights during bottling.
Antifungal preservative
Substance used in liquid and semi solid preparation to prevent the growth of fungi.
The effectiveness of the parabens is usually enhanced when they are used in combination
Ex: butylparaben, ethylparaben
Antioxidant synergists
Substances that improve the function of an antioxidant, helping it to inhibit oxidation, and thus, is used to prevent the deterioration of preparations by the oxidative process.
Ex: edetic acid, EDTA 
Antioxidants
Any substance that reduces oxidative damage (damage due to oxygen) such as that caused by free radicals.
In formulations, can be ingredients employed to prevent or retard product spoilage from rancidity or by inhibiting oxidation (deterioration from reaction with oxygen).
Anti-static agents
For use in topically applied cosmetics
Ingredients that alter the electrical properties of materials or of human body surfaces (skin, hair, etc.) by reducing their tendency to acquire an electrical charge.
Bases
Agents used as a vehicle in to which medical substances are incorporated.
Ex: polydextrose, lanolin, hard, fat
Binders
Ingredients add to compounded dry powder, mixtures of solids, and the like to provide adhesive qualities during and after compression to make tablets or cakes
Mini lipids, surfactants, and polymers can be used for the indicated purpose
Ex: Acacia, gelatin
Bioactive
Describes any material that exhibits interaction or effect on any cell tissue.
Botanical
A constituent from a plant source that provides therapeutic or biological affect.
Buffering agents
Aka Buffers
 Chemicals which have the property of maintaining the pH of an aqueous medium in a narrow range, even if small amounts of acids or bases are added.
Buffering agents, and PH adjusters are used to alter and to maintain a products PH at the desired level.
Ex: malic acid, sodium citrate.
Bulking agent
Usually chemically in earth, solid ingredients, employed as dilutants for other solids.
In this application, bulking agents are, for example, useful in the extension of pigments for use, and a powder.
Carrier
A term used to describe a component of a formula that provides a number of functions including delivery of active ingredients and stability
Also known as a vehicle.
