Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Chemistry 2

Question 1

Which functional group is responsible for the acidic character of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)?

Accepted Answer

Carboxylic acid group

Answer

The carboxylic acid (-COOH) group in aspirin donates a proton, giving it its acidic character with a pKa of ~3.5.

Question 2

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is primarily used in pharmacy to:

Accepted Answer

Calculate the ratio of ionized to unionized drug forms at a given pH

Answer

Henderson-Hasselbalch (pH = pKa + log[A⁻]/[HA]) calculates the ionization ratio of weak acids/bases at physiological pH, which affects absorption.

Question 3

Which stereochemical descriptor system is used to unambiguously name chiral centers in drug molecules?

Accepted Answer

R/S (Cahn-Ingold-Prelog) system

Answer

The R/S (Cahn-Ingold-Prelog) system assigns priority to substituents by atomic number and unambiguously designates absolute configuration at chiral centers.

Question 4

Prodrugs are compounds that:

Accepted Answer

Require biotransformation in the body to become active

Answer

Prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive precursors converted in vivo (typically by enzymes) to the active drug form to improve bioavailability or reduce toxicity.

Question 5

What is the primary mechanism by which beta-lactam antibiotics exert their antibacterial effect?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting bacterial cell wall transpeptidase (PBPs)

Answer

Beta-lactam antibiotics irreversibly acylate and inhibit penicillin-binding proteins (transpeptidases), blocking cross-linking of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls.

Pharmacy Practice Test

Pharmacy Practice Test

Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Chemistry 2