Phosphate is a major intracellular anion in mammals. Hydrogen phopshate is a protonated form of phosphate. In serum, phosphate exists in two forms, dihydrogen phosphate (H2PO4) and its salt, mono-hydrogen phosphate (HPO4). At the physiologic pH of 7.40, the pK of H2PO4 is 6.8 and the ratio of HPO4 to H2PO4 is 4:1. Altered level of phosphate can be an indicator of various disorders, such as chronic renal failure, hypoparathyroidism, familial intermittent hyperphosphatemia, endocrine disorders, hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, juvenile hypogonadism, etc. These disorders may lead to either hyper- or hypophosphatemia, which can be caused by cellular shifts of phosphate. Patients with hypophosphatemia can be treated with dietary phosphate supplements (potassium phosphate, for example).

The ammonium cation is a positively charged polyatomic ion with the chemical formula NH4+. Ammonium ions are a waste product of the metabolism of animals. In fish and aquatic invertebrates, it is excreted directly into the water. In mammals, sharks, and amphibians, it is converted in the urea cycle to urea, because urea is less toxic and can be stored more efficiently. In birds, reptiles, and terrestrial snails, metabolic ammonium is converted into uric acid, which is solid and can therefore be excreted with minimal water loss. Ammonium is an important source of nitrogen for many plant species, especially those growing on hypoxic soils. However, it is also toxic to most crop species and is rarely applied as a sole nitrogen source. The ammonium ion (NH4+) in the body plays an important role in the maintenance of acid-base balance. The kidney uses ammonium (NH4+) in place of sodium (Na+) to combine with fixed anions in maintaining acid-base balance, especially as a homeostatic compensatory mechanism in metabolic acidosis. When a loss of hydrogen ions (H+) occurs and serum chloride (Cl–) decreases, sodium is made available for combination with bicarbonate (HCO3–). This creates an excess of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) which leads to a rise in blood pH and a state of metabolic alkalosis. The therapeutic effects of Ammonium (as Ammonium Chloride) depend upon the ability of the kidney to utilize ammonia in the excretion of an excess of fixed anions and the conversion of ammonia to urea by the liver, thereby liberating hydrogen (H+) and chloride (Cl–) ions into the extracellular fluid.

SULFATE (as sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate) is a component of SUPREP Bowel Prep Kit. It is an osmotic laxative indicated for cleansing of the colon in preparation for colonoscopy in adults. Sulfate salts provide sulfate anions, which are poorly absorbed. The osmotic effect of unabsorbed sulfate anions and the associated cations causes water to be retained within the gastrointestinal tract. SUPREP Bowel Prep Kit, when ingested with a large volume of water, produces copious watery diarrhea.

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is an organic nitrate that has been used for the treatment of angina pectoris. Upon administration, the drug undergoes exstensive metabolism to NO which causes vasodilation and the relaxation of smooth muscle cells. The compound belongs to a familiy of explosive substances and may be used accordingly.

COPPER is a heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu. It is commonly used in contraceptive intrauterine devices (IUD) which birth control effectiveness is enhanced by COPPER continuously released into the uterine cavity. Mechanism(s) by which COPPER enhances contraceptive efficacy include interference with sperm transport and fertilization of an egg, and possibly prevention of implantation.

Acetic acid (a component of vinagre) is used in medicine for the treatment of otitis externa caused by bacterial infections. The solution containing acetic acid was approved by FDA.

Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78% by volume of Earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen occurs in all living organisms. It is a constituent element of amino acids and therefore of proteins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Nitrogen is found in the chemical structure of almost all neurotransmitters and is a key component of alkaloids. Specific bacteria (e. g. Rhizobium trifolium) possess nitrogenase enzymes which can fix atmospheric nitrogen into a form (ammonium ion) which is chemically useful to higher organisms. Animals use nitrogen-containing amino acids from plant sources, as starting materials for all nitrogen-compound animal biochemistry, including the manufacture of proteins and nucleic acids. Animal metabolism of NO (nitric oxide) results in production of nitrite. Animal metabolism of nitrogen in proteins generally results in excretion of urea, while animal metabolism of nucleic acids results in excretion of urea and uric acid. The characteristic odor of animal flesh decay is caused by nitrogen-containing long-chain amines, such as putrescine and cadaverine. Decay of organisms and their waste products may produce small amounts of nitrate, but most decay eventually returns nitrogen content to the atmosphere, as molecular nitrogen. The circulation of nitrogen from the atmosphere through organics and then back to the atmosphere is commonly referred to as the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen can be measured in urine with the Kjeldahl method or by spectrophotometric methods (enzymic tests). Total urinary nitrogen is calculated based on urea urinary nitrogen quantified with these methods. Liquid nitrogen (E941) is widely used in food industry as a freezing agent and as a protection against the impact of microorganisms. Nitrogen (E941) extends the period of validity of food and maintains its nutrients and is also used for packing products. In other fields of industry, nitrogen (E941) is useful in suppressing the combustion processes and in creating protective environment in order to avoid oxidation. Medical nitrogen has various medical uses, especially in liquid form when it provides temperatures as low as -196° C. Applications of medical nitrogen in the healthcare environment may include the following: * In cryopreservation for the long-term preservation of blood, blood components, other cells, body fluids or tissue samples. * In cryosurgery for minor surgical procedures in dermatology. * As a component in many gas mixtures. * As a displacement medium for sterile equipment, a non-oxidising displacement medium in pharmaceutical vials and as a propellant in pressurised aerosol dispensers. * As a source of pneumatic pressure to power gas-operated medical devices. * As a coolant for carbon dioxide surgical lasers.

Oxygen is a chemical element with atomic number 8. Diatomic oxygen constitutes 20.8% of the Earth's atmosphere. Diatomic oxygen is used by complex life forms such as animals, in cellular respiration. Medical oxygen is widely used in clinical practice to provide a basis for most modern anaesthetic techniques; to restore the tissue oxygen tension towards normal by improving oxygen availability in a wide range of conditions such as shock, severe haemorrhage, coronary occlusion, carbon monoxide poisoning, major trauma; to aid the resuscitation of the critically ill, when the circulation is impaired; to aid in neonatal resuscitation; to treat acute severe headache in adults diagnosed with cluster headache.

Glycerin (glycerol) is 3-carbon alcohol naturally occurring in the human body. It is the structural backbone triacylglycerol molecules, and can also be converted to a glycolytic substrate for subsequent metabolism. Glycerin is a colorless, odorless, viscous, sweet-tasting liquid. The FDA classifies glycerol as "generally recognized as safe". Glycerin is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a sweetener in syrups, lozenges, and as an excipient in eyewash solutions. As an individual prescription product, glycerin has uses as a hyperosmotic, osmotic diuretic, and ophthalmic agent. It may be used as an eye drop in the treatment of glaucoma to reduce intraocular pressure, as a solution or suppository for short-term treatment of constipation, to evacuate the bowel prior to a colonoscopy, and in some ocular surgeries. It may be given intravenously to reduce pressure inside the brain and used externally on the skin as a moisturizer. Glycerin has many other uses in the agricultural, food and pharmaceutical industry.

Diammonium carbonate is a salt with the chemical formula (NH4)2CO3. Since it readily degrades to gaseous ammonia and carbon dioxide upon heating, it is used as a leavening agent and also as smelling salt. Ammonium carbonate may be used as a leavening agent in traditional recipes, particularly those from northern Europe and Scandinavia (e.g. Speculoos, Tunnbröd or Lebkuchen). It also serves as an acidity regulator and has the E number E503. Ammonium carbonate is the main component of smelling salts, although the commercial scale of their production is small. Buckley's cough syrup from Canada today uses ammonium carbonate as an active ingredient intended to help relieve symptoms of bronchitis. Ammonium carbonate is also used as an emetic.