A white silvery metal of very light weight; atomic no. 13, atomic wt. 26.981539. Many salts and compounds are used in medicine and dentistry. [L. alumen, alum]
- a. acetate used as a disinfectant by embalmers; proposed as desiccant and deodorant powder for eczema and chronic skin ulcers.
- a. carbonate, basic an a. hydroxide-carbonate complex consisting of white lumps, insoluble in water; aqueous suspensions bind phosphorus in the intestine and lower serum inorganic phosphorus resulting in an increase in reabsorption of phosphorus by renal tubules and reduction of urinary excretion of phosphorus; it reduces formation of phosphatic urinary calculi and gastric acidity.
- a. hydroxide an astringent dusting powder; also used internally as a mild astringent antacid. SYN: a. hydrate, hydrated alumina.
- a. hydroxide gel a suspension containing Al2O3, mainly in the form of a. hydroxide, used as an antacid; a dried form, with the same use, is obtained by drying the product of interaction in aqueous solution of an a. salt with ammonium or sodium carbonate.
- a. hydroxychloride an antiperspirant.
- a. monostearate a compound of a. with a mixture of solid organic acids obtained from fats, and consisting chiefly of a. monostearate and a. monopalmitate; used as a suspending medium in pharmaceutical preparations.
- a. penicillin See a. penicillin.
- a. phosphate an infusible powder, insoluble in water but soluble in alkali hydroxides, used for dental cements with calcium sulfate and sodium silicate.
- a. phosphate gel an aqueous suspension of between 4.0 and 5.0% of a. phosphate; used as an antacid.
- a. potassium sulfate an astringent and styptic; also used in veterinary medicine for ulcerative stomatitis, leukorrhea, and conjunctivitis. SYN: potassium alum.
- a. subacetate used in solution (as in Burow solution) as an astringent, as an ingredient in mouthwashes, and in embalming fluids. SYN: a. diacetate.
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alu·mi·num ə-'lü-mə-nəm n, often attrib a bluish silver-white malleable ductile light trivalent metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust where it always occurs in combination symbol Al see ELEMENT (table)
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alu·mi·num (Al) (ə-looґmĭ-nəm) an extremely light, whitish, lustrous, metallic element, obtainable from bauxite or clay: specific gravity, 2.699; atomic weight, 26.982; atomic number, 13. It is very malleable and ductile and has many industrial uses. In dentistry it is used for the manufacture of instruments for the fabrication of dentures, obturators, and other prosthetic devices and as a base for artificial dentures. The aluminum of the pharmacopeia is a fine, free-flowing, silvery powder, free from gritty or discolored particles. Aluminum compounds are used chiefly for their antacid and astringent properties. Excessive amounts in the body have a variety of toxic effects; see aluminum poisoning, under poisoning.Medical dictionary. 2011.