• merc@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    10 days ago

    Both are slightly less clunky words created from the corpse of “N-acetyl-para-aminophenol”

    “Acetaminophen” takes the “acet” from “acetyl” and “aminophen” from “aminophenol”.

    “Paracetamol” takes the “para” part, and then a few other random letters that don’t really make sence. “cet” from “acetyl”, and maybe “am” from the start of “amphenol” with the “ol” ending from the same word, ignoring that it ends in “nol”?

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      10 days ago

      Paracetamol" takes the “para” part, and then a few other random letters that don’t really make sence.

      Because it actually comes from a different chemical name for the same compound: para-acetylaminophenol