The Hydroxide Ion (DB14522): A Comprehensive Analysis of its Physicochemical Properties, Physiological Significance, and Pharmacological Applications

Executive Summary

The hydroxide ion ($OH^{-}$), cataloged in the DrugBank database under the accession number DB14522, represents a unique case study in pharmacological classification. It is not a therapeutic agent in its own right but rather a fundamental diatomic anion indispensable to the fields of chemistry, biology, and medicine. This report provides an exhaustive analysis of the hydroxide ion, clarifying its identity and deconstructing its multifaceted roles. Its pharmacological relevance is not derived from its use as a standalone drug, but from its function as a reactive chemical moiety within a range of established pharmaceutical compounds, most notably the metal hydroxides employed as antacids. Furthermore, it serves as a critical excipient in drug formulation and manufacturing, primarily for pH adjustment and, in the case of aluminum hydroxide, as a vaccine adjuvant.