Chemistry in Everyday Life Formula – Classification, Types, Structure

If you’re studying chemistry, then you must have wondered about the importance of chemistry in everyday life. Drugs are chemical substances used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases. They can have various origins, including plant extracts, chemical synthesis, and microbiological processes.

Classification of Drugs

Drugs can be classified based on their pharmacological effect, chemical structure, or drug action mechanism. A broad pharmacological classification is:

Analgesics: Relieve pain without causing unconsciousness.

e.g., Paracetamol.

Antipyretics: Reduce fever.

e.g., Aspirin. 

Antiseptics: Kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms.

e.g., Dettol. 

Tranquillizers: Relieve stress, tension, and anxiety.

e.g., Diazepam. 

Antibiotics: Kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

e.g., Penicillin. 

Antivirals: Act against viruses.

e.g., Oseltamivir. 

Antifungals: Counteract fungal infections.

e.g., Fluconazole. 

Drug-Target Interaction

Drugs exert their effects by interacting with specific molecules in the body called targets, which can be proteins, nucleic acids, or even lipids. The most common targets are proteins like enzymes, ion channels, and receptors. When a drug binds to its target, it modulates the target’s activity, leading to a therapeutic effect.

Therapeutic Action of Different Classes of Drugs

Analgesics

Block the transmission of pain signals to the brain or interfere with the brain’s interpretation of these signals.

Example: Paracetamol (also known as Acetaminophen)

Formula: C₈H₉NO₂

Structure: Its chemical structure can be simplified as a benzene ring attached to an acetamide group. Given the limitations of this format, a detailed structure would be better visualized using chemistry-specific resources or software.

Therapeutic Action: Inhibits an enzyme in the brain called COX, reducing the production of prostaglandins, which are mediators of pain and inflammation.

Structure: Benzene ring attached to an NHCOCH₃ group.

Therapeutic Action: Inhibits COX enzymes in the brain, reducing the production of prostaglandins which mediate pain and fever.

Antipyretics

Act on the hypothalamus to reduce body temperature.

Example: Aspirin

Formula: C₉H₈O₄

Structure: A benzene ring attached to an acetyl group and a carboxylic acid group.

Therapeutic Action: Inhibits COX enzymes, leading to decreased production of prostaglandins. This reduces fever and inflammation

Structure: Benzene ring with an OCOCH₃ group and a COOH group.

Therapeutic Action: Inhibits COX enzymes, leading to reduced production of prostaglandins, thus reducing inflammation and fever.

Antiseptics

Disrupt the cell walls or metabolic pathways of microorganisms.

Example: Dettol 

Structure: Dettol is a mixture, but one of its active ingredients is 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol. 

Example: Chlorhexidine 

Formula: C₂₂H₃₀Cl₂N₁₀ 

Therapeutic Action: Disrupts the cell walls and membranes of microbes, preventing their growth.

Tranquilizers

 Modulate neurotransmitter levels or their action in the central nervous system.

Example: Diazepam (Valium)

Formula: C₁₆H₁₃ClN₂O 

Structure: Fused benzene and diazepine rings with a chloro substituent and other groups.

Therapeutic Action: Modulates GABA neurotransmitter action, leading to sedative and anxiolytic effects.

Antibiotics

Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or other essential processes.

Example: Penicillin

Formula: R-C₉H₁₁N₂O₄S (R group varies for different penicillins)

 Structure: Features a thiazolidine ring attached to a β-lactam ring and variable R group.

Therapeutic Action: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Antivirals

 Interfere with viral replication processes.

Example: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

Formula: C₁₆H₂₈N₂O₄ 

Structure: Complex structure with an ester, amine, and ether functional groups.

 Therapeutic Action: Inhibits viral neuraminidase, preventing viral replication.

Antifungals

Target components unique to fungal cells, like fungal cell walls.

Example: Fluconazole 

Formula: C₁₃H₁₂F₂N₆O

Structure: Triazole ring, two fluorine atoms, and several other functional groups.

Therapeutic Action: Disrupts fungal cell membrane synthesis by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis.

Cleansing Agents

Soaps: Sodium or potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids. They cleanse by emulsifying dirt and oils.

 Equation: RCOOH + NaOH→ RCOONa + H₂O

(where R is a long alkyl chain)

Detergents: Synthetic cleansing agents, often derived from petrochemicals. They can be anionic, cationic, or non-ionic based on the charge of their hydrophilic part. Equation for a generic anionic detergent:

RSO₃H + NaOH → RSO₃Na + H₂O 

Also Check – Chemical Bonding Formula

Based on Pharmacological Effect

 Drugs classified by their therapeutic use or clinical indications.

Analgesics: 

Example: Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) 

Formula: C₈H₉NO₂ 

Structure: Benzene ring attached to an NHCOCH₃ group.

 Antipyretics: 

Example: Aspirin 

Formula: C₉H₈O₄

Structure: Benzene ring with an OCOCH₃ group and a COOH group.

Also Check – Aluminium Acetate Formula 

Based on Drug Action

Classified by the action at the cellular or molecular level.

Enzyme Inhibitors: 

Example: Statins (e.g., Lovastatin)

Formula: C₂₄H₃₆O₅ 

Structure: Complex, with fused rings and methyl groups.

Receptor Blockers: 

Example: Losartan (Angiotensin receptor blocker)

Formula: C₂₂H₂₃ClN₆O

Structure: Complex with imidazole ring and biphenyl group.

Also Check – Bleaching Powder Formula

Based on Chemical Structure

Classifying drugs by their chemical constitution.

Steroids: 

Example: Cortisol 

Formula: C₂₁H₃₀O₅

Structure: Four fused rings: three cyclohexane rings and a cyclopentane ring. Benzodiazepines:

Example: Diazepam

Formula: C₁₆H₁₃ClN₂O

Structure: Fused benzene and diazepine rings.

Based on Molecular Targets

Drugs can be classified by the primary cellular molecules they act upon.

Protein Kinase Inhibitors:

Example: Imatinib

Formula: C₂₉H₃₁N₇O 

Structure: Complex with pyrimidine and phenylamino group.

Nucleic Acid Targets:

Example: Fluoroquinolones (e.g., Ciprofloxacin) 

Formula: C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃

Structure: Contains a carboxylic acid, fluorine, and a piperazine ring.