Summery of Topical Agents: Inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Topical agents are substances that act locally on the surface of the body, such as the skin and mucous membranes.

Compounds	Formula	Use/Category	Analyzed	Characteristics
Zinc Oxide	ZnO	Astringent and protective	Acidimetric back titration	ZnO Ointment —15% conc.
Calamine	ZnO with small amount of ferric oxide	Astringent and protective	–	Used as lotion and ointment
Zinc Stearate	(CH3 (CH3)₁₆C00}Zn	Astringent and Antimicrobial	Complexometric	Dusting Powder
Alum (Hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate-potassium alum)	KAI(SO₄)₂.12H₂0	Astringent, stop bleeding from small cut, Pharmaceutical aids	Gravimetry or precipitation	Used in 0.5-5% conc.
Titanium Dioxide	TiO₂	Protective and Pharmaceutical aids	Complexometric
Hydrogen Peroxide	H₂O₂	Germicides	Oxidation reduction
Potassium Permenganate	KMnO₄	Anti infective & Antiseptic	Oxidation reduction	0.0006-2%
Mercurous chloride	HgCl	Anti infective	Iodometric	Used in Eczema
Boric acid or boracic acid (Acidum boricum, hydrogen borate)	H₃BO₃	Anti infective & Germicides	Titrimetric	Bacteriostatic as eye wash- 4.5%
Selenium Sulphide	SeS₂	Kwashiorkar & Anti-dendruff agent	Oxidation reduction	Antioxidant in conjugation with Vit.E
Iodine (Iodophore.Povidon-Iodine)	I₂	Anti infective & Local germicidal	Oxidation reduction	Aq Iodine Solution, Lugol Solution, Iodine tincture, Strong Iodine Solution, Weak Iodine Solution
Zinc Sulphate	ZnSO₄.7H₂O	Astringent & Emetics	Gravimetric	0.6-2 gm dose
Silicone Oil	Dimethy Silyl ether	Gastric protective, anti-flatulent		Simethicone (Activated Dimethicone)