Question

I need to identify a haloalkane and describe the manner in which it functions as an anesthetic.

Answer 1

Haloalkanes are a group of chemical compounds that consist of an alkane with one or more halogens attached to it. Some examples of haloalkanes useds as anethesia are Halothane, Trichloroethylene, and Chloroform. The exact manner in which anesthetics works is, for the most part, still uncertain at the cellular and molecular levels. There are two big theories, however, about how this might work. One, called the Meyer Overton theory states that anesthetic chemicals dissolve within the membranes of cells and then causes the structures of these cells to be distorted. This, consequently, impairs the ability of nerve signals to be carried along nerve cells. A second theory states that anethetics interact with specific proteins, such as neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, and change their structures, thereby, affecting their action.