CHEMICAL
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Friend of the big toe. One does not speak lightly of pain, and among pains one of the most excruciating is the pain of gout—classically in the joint of the big toe. Gout seldom shows up before the age of 35, and 95% of the cases occur in males—a triumph for Fern Lib graciously bestowed by Mother Nature. Gout is caused by an inborn deficiency in purine metabolism. The purine in this case is uric acid, which precipitates in the joints in the form of sodium urate. The power to control gout lies in its detection. GTE Sylvania's contribution to normal perambulation of gout victims is an indicator for uric acid called sodium tungstate (Na 2 W0 4 ). This chemical acts both as a buffer assuring proper alkalinity and as a precursor for phosphotungstic acid which is likewise used as a reagent in the test. But the story isn't that simple. There is now on the market, the AutoAnalyzer*, a diagnostic machine which can quickly detect any of a dozen things wrong with you, including the presence of too much uric acid in the blood. N = COH I I HOC C - N H II II NCOH N-C-N^ The enemy. 2, 6, 8—trihydroxypurine (enol form). It takes a very, very pure sodium tungstate to do the uric acid test right. (Ours is well into parts per billion. ) Purity, alas, is not enough. We have hinted in the past that molybdenum and tungsten chemistry with its great, bumbling molecules, its long list of valences, its tendency to go off in directions unforeseen by sage or prophet—is often more of an art than a science.
FROM
SYLVANIA
The AutoAnalyzer demands sodium tungstate of high purity and unexcelled art — sodium tungstate that will trigger a standard range of blues from light to dark depending on the amount of uric acid present. It has to work the same every single time to satisfy a dumb colorimeter. We can provide. We'll work with any customer to achieve a clinical sodium tungstate that's exactly right for his AutoAnalyzer. Which is the first step in getting a gouty patient back on his feet. Write for details on our clinical and other grades of sodium tungstate. It will help us to know your application.
Phosphors: Org or Inorg? The differences between organic and inorganic phosphors are not too subtle. For instance, organics dissolve and inorganics don't. With organics, it's the molecule itself that fluoresces. With inorganics, it's the basic crystal structure. Organic phosphors are soft. Inorganics are abrasive. Organics are generally brighter than inorganics under "black" light. Many have intense colors of their own in ordinary light. Each of these differences can be decisive in a product. Even though we make both organic and inorganic phosphors, we think the former deserve a bit more attention than they generally get. We'll elaborate in the form of org phosphor info. // you have any phosphor problem—org or inorg— we'll be happy to help. First aid in the form of technical data sheets. Give us an idea of your application. We're always glad to talk to you about molybdenum, tungsten and phosphor chemistry. Write to: GTE Sylvania, Chemical & Metallurgical Division, Towanda, Pa. 18848. *Registered trademark Technicon Instruments Corporation
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