Final answer:
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has weak anti-inflammatory effects compared to NSAIDs like aspirin and is used for its analgesic and antipyretic properties. It poses an increased risk of liver damage in chronic alcoholics and is metabolized primarily through sulphate and glucuronide conjugation. Paracetamol's pKa is closer to 9.5, not 3.5.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding paracetamol, it is not considered a powerful anti-inflammatory agent; its anti-inflammatory properties are relatively weak compared to other NSAIDs like aspirin. Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen in the US, is primarily used for its analgesic and antipyretic effects. Care should be taken when administering paracetamol to children, ensuring that dosages do not exceed the recommended levels, which can vary but are typically under 15 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg for children.For chronic alcoholics, there is indeed an increased risk of hepatic necrosis because chronic alcohol use can induce certain liver enzymes that metabolize acetaminophen into toxic metabolites, leading to liver damage at lower doses than in non-alcoholics. Additionally, the major metabolic pathways for paracetamol include sulphate and glucuronide conjugation, with sulphate conjugation being prominent, especially in children.The pKa of paracetamol is not 3.5; it is closer to 9.5, implying that paracetamol is a weak acid and exists mostly in its unionized form at physiological pH.