CHAPTER 11 • ISOTONIC AND BUFFER SOLUTIONS 171

TABLE 11.1 SODIUM CHLORIDE EQUIVALENTS (E VALUES)

SODIUM
CHLORIDE
MOLECULAR EQUIVALENT
SUBSTANCE WEIGHT IONS i (E VALUE )
Antazoline phosphate 363 2 1.8 0.16
Antipyrine 188 1 1.0 0.17
Atropine sulfate⋅H2 O 695 3 2.6 0.12
Benoxinate hydrochloride 345 2 1.8 0.17
Benzalkonium chloride 360 2 1.8 0.16
Benzyl alcohol 108 1 1.0 0.30
Boric acid 61.8 1 1.0 0.52
Chloramphenicol 323 1 1.0 0.10
Chlorobutanol 177 1 1.0 0.24
Chlortetracycline hydrochloride 515 2 1.8 0.11
Cocaine hydrochloride 340 2 1.8 0.16
Cromolyn sodium 512 2 1.8 0.11
Cyclopentolate hydrochloride 328 2 1.8 0.18
Demecarium bromide 717 3 2.6 0.12
Dextrose (anhydrous) 180 1 1.0 0.18
Dextrose⋅H2 O 198 1 1.0 0.16
Dipivefrin hydrochloride 388 2 1.8 0.15
Ephedrine hydrochloride 202 2 1.8 0.29
Ephedrine sulfate 429 3 2.6 0.23
Epinephrine bitartrate 333 2 1.8 0.18
Epinephryl borate 209 1 1.0 0.16
Eucatropine hydrochloride 328 2 1.8 0.18
Fluorescein sodium 376 3 2.6 0.31
Glycerin 92 1 1.0 0.34
Homatropine hydrobromide 356 2 1.8 0.17
Hydroxyamphetamine hydrobromide 232 2 1.8 0.25
Idoxuridine 354 1 1.0 0.09
Lidocaine hydrochloride 289 2 1.8 0.22
Mannitol 182 1 1.0 0.18
Morphine sulfate⋅5H2 O 759 3 2.6 0.11
Naphazoline hydrochloride 247 2 1.8 0.27
Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 297 2 1.8 0.20
Oxytetracycline hydrochloride 497 2 1.8 0.12
Phenacaine hydrochloride 353 2 1.8 0.20
Phenobarbital sodium 254 2 1.8 0.24
Phenylephrine hydrochloride 204 2 1.8 0.32
Physostigmine salicylate 413 2 1.8 0.16
Physostigmine sulfate 649 3 2.6 0.13
Pilocarpine hydrochloride 245 2 1.8 0.24
Pilocarpine nitrate 271 2 1.8 0.23
Potassium biphosphate 136 2 1.8 0.43
Potassium chloride 74.5 2 1.8 0.76
Potassium iodide 166 2 1.8 0.34
Potassium nitrate 101 2 1.8 0.58
Potassium penicillin G 372 2 1.8 0.18
Procaine hydrochloride 273 2 1.8 0.21
Proparacaine hydrochloride 331 2 1.8 0.18
Scopolamine hydrobromide⋅3H2 O 438 2 1.8 0.12
Silver nitrate 170 2 1.8 0.33
Sodium bicarbonate 84 2 1.8 0.65
Sodium borate⋅10H2 O 381 5 4.2 0.42

(continued)
172 PHARMACEUTICAL CALCULATIONS

TABLE 11.1 continued

SODIUM
CHLORIDE
MOLECULAR EQUIVALENT
SUBSTANCE WEIGHT IONS i (E VALUE)
Sodium carbonate 106 3 2.6 0.80
Sodium carbonate⋅H2 O 124 3 2.6 0.68
Sodium chloride 58 2 1.8 1.00
Sodium citrate⋅2H2 O 294 4 3.4 0.38
Sodium iodide 150 2 1.8 0.39
Sodium lactate 112 2 1.8 0.52
Sodium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous 142 3 2.6 0.53
Sodium phosphate, dibasic⋅7H2 O 268 3 2.6 0.29
Sodium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous 120 2 1.8 0.49
Sodium phosphate, monobasic⋅H2 O 138 2 1.8 0.42
Tetracaine hydrochloride 301 2 1.8 0.18
Tetracycline hydrochloride 481 2 1.8 0.12
Tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride 237 2 1.8 0.25
Timolol maleate 432 2 1.8 0.14
Tobramycin 468 1 1.0 0.07
Tropicamide 284 1 1.0 0.11
Urea 60 1 1.0 0.59
Zinc chloride 136 3 2.6 0.62
Zinc sulfate⋅7H2 O 288 2 1.4 0.15

Example Calculations of the Sodium Chloride Equivalent

The sodium chloride equivalent of a substance may be calculated as follows:
Molecular weight i factor
of sodium chloride of the substance Sodium chloride
 
i Factor Molecular weight equivalent
of sodium chloride of the substance
Papaverine hydrochloride (m.w. 376) is a 2-ion electrolyte, dissociating 80% in a given concentra-
tion. Calculate its sodium chloride equivalent.
Because papaverine hydrochloride is a 2-ion electrolyte, dissociating 80%, its i factor is 1.8.
58.5 1.8
  0.156, or 0.16, answer.
1.8 376
Calculate the sodium chloride equivalent for glycerin, a nonelectrolyte with a molecular weight
of 92.2
Glycerin, i factor  1.0
58.5 1.0
  0.35, answer.
1.8 92
Calculate the sodium chloride equivalent for timolol maleate, which dissociates into two ions and
has a molecular weight of 432.2
Timolol maleate, i factor  1.8
58.5 1.8
  0.14, answer.
1.8 432