tham

THAM, or tromethamine, is tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, a zwitterionic organic base that serves mainly as a buffering agent in biochemical and medical contexts. It is a white crystalline solid with high water solubility and a central amine bearing three hydroxymethyl substituents.

In chemical use, THAM is employed to prepare buffers with buffering capacity around physiological pH, commonly in the range of about 7 to 9, depending on temperature. In the laboratory, it is usually used as the free base (THAM) or as the Tris base for buffer systems, which are subsequently converted to Tris-HCl or other salts to set the desired pH. Typical working buffers range from tens to hundreds of millimolar.

In clinical practice, tromethamine has been used as an alkalinizing agent to treat metabolic acidosis and to maintain acid-base balance during certain surgical procedures. It acts by accepting protons, thereby increasing blood pH, and is administered by intravenous infusion under medical supervision. Its use has declined with the broader adoption of bicarbonate therapy in some settings, but it remains an option in select cases and contexts.

Safety and handling: THAM is typically supplied as a pharmaceutical excipient or laboratory chemical. It should be handled according to standard laboratory safety guidelines, avoiding inhalation of powders and contact with eyes. In clinical use, dosing and administration are performed by medical professionals, with monitoring for electrolyte disturbances and fluid balance.

See also: Tris (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), buffering agents, metabolic acidosis treatment.