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List of chemical compounds

with unusual names
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Chemical nomenclature, replete as it is with
compounds with complex names, is a repository for
some names that may be considered unusual. A
browse through the Physical Constants of Organic
Compounds in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and
Physics (a fundamental resource) will reveal not just
the whimsical work of chemists, but the sometimes
peculiar compound names that occur as the
consequence of simple juxtaposition. Some names
derive legitimately from their chemical makeup, from
the geographic region where they may be found, the
plant or animal species from which they are isolated
or the name of the discoverer.

Some are given intentionally unusual trivial names

based on their structure, a notable property or at the
whim of those who first isolate them. However, many
trivial names predate formal naming conventions.
Trivial names can also be ambiguous or carry
different meanings in different industries,
geographic regions and languages.

Godly noted that "Trivial names having the status of

INN or ISO are carefully tailor-made for their field of
use and are internationally accepted".[1] In his
preface to Chemical Nomenclature, Thurlow wrote
that "Chemical names do not have to be deadly
serious".[2] A website in existence since 1997[3] and
maintained at the University of Bristol lists a
selection of "molecules with silly or unusual names"
strictly for entertainment. These so-called silly or
funny trivial names (depending on culture) can also
serve an educational purpose. In an article in the
Journal of Chemical Education, Dennis Ryan argues
that students of organic nomenclature (considered a
"dry and boring" subject) may actually take an
interest in it when tasked with the job of converting
funny-sounding chemical trivial names to their
proper systematic names.[4]

The collection listed below presents a sample of

trivial names and gives an idea how chemists are
inspired when they coin a brand new name for a
chemical compound outside of systematic naming. It
also includes some examples of systematic names
and acronyms that accidentally resemble English
words.

Elements …

Glenn Seaborg told his students that he proposed

the chemical symbol Pu (from P U) instead of the
conventional "Pl" for plutonium as a joke, only to find
it officially adopted.[5] Unununium (Uuu) was the
former temporary name of the chemical element
number 111, a synthetic transuranium element. This
element was named roentgenium (Rg) in November
2004.

Compounds …

Name based on shape …

Barrelene C8H8, the name derives from
the resemblance to a
barrel.[6]

Basketane

pentacyclo[4.4.0.02,5.03,8.04,7]decane
(C10H12), a polycyclic alkane with a
structure similar to a basket.[3]

Churchane A polycyclic alkane named

"churchane" because it looks
superficially like a church.

Cubane A hydrocarbon whose eight

carbon atoms occupy the
vertices of a cube.[7]

Dodecahedrane A Platonic
hydrocarbon shaped
like a
dodecahedron.[8]

Fenestrane A class of compounds with a

(Windowpane) "window pane motif" (the
name fenestrane derives from the
Latin word fenestra, meaning
window), comprising four fused
carbocycles centred on a quaternary
carbon resulting in a twice-over spiro
compound. The illustration at right
shows a generic fenestrane as well as
the specific example
[4,4,4,4]fenestrane. Fenestranes are
of considerable interest in theoretical
chemistry though comparatively few
have actually been synthesised.

Housane A polycyclic alkane named

"housane" because it looks
superficially like a house.[3]

Alternative name
is Orthocarbonic
acid
(methanetetrol).
The compound
Hitler's acid has also been
given the
nickname of "Hitler's Acid" due to the
Ball-and-stick model of the
compound resembling the Swastika
symbol.

Ladderane An organic
molecule that
looks like a ladder because it
contains two or more fused rings of
cyclobutane.

Nanokids belongs
to a series of
NanoPutians, a
series of organic
molecules whose
structural formula
resemble human
forms.
"NanoPutian" is a portmanteau of
nanometer, a unit of length
commonly used to measure chemical
compounds, and lilliputian, a fictional
race of humans in the novel Gulliver's
Nanokid
Travels by Jonathan Swift.

There are no chemical or practical

uses for the NanoKid molecule or any
of its known derivatives. However,
James Tour has turned the NanoKid
into a lifelike character to educate
children in the sciences. It was found
that 82% of students found that
NanoKids made learning science
more interesting and led to a 10–59%
increase in understanding of the
material presented.[9]

Olympiadane A

mechanically-interlocked compound
based on the topology for the
Olympic rings.

Olympicene Refers to the fused 5-

benzene rings
(C19H12), which is
reminiscent of the
Olympic Flag.[10]

Penguinone 3,4,4,5-
tetramethylcyclohexa-
2,5-dienone; a two-
dimensional
representation of its
structure resembles a penguin.

Prismane An isomer of benzene

with the carbon atoms
arranged in the shape
of a triangular prism.

Paddlanes Paddlanes are bicyclic

cyclohexane
molecules that
resemble the paddles
on Mississippi steamboats.

Quadratic acid A square-shaped organic

compound, also called
squaric acid.

Sulflower A stable heterocyclic

octacirculene based on
thiophene, named as a
portmanteau of sulfur
and sunflower.

Volleyballene Molecule composed

of 60 carbon and 20
scandium atoms,
which has an
appearance similar to that of a volley
ball.

Named after people …

Buckminsterfullerene Also called
(Fullerene) the buckyball,
this is an
allotrope of
carbon
named after Richard
Buckminster Fuller due to its
resemblance to Fuller's
geodesic domes. The term
was coined by Harold
Kroto.[11] The alternative
name footballene was coined
by A.D.J. Haymet[12] because
the molecule also resembles
a football;[3] the 70-atom
version is said to resemble a
rugby ball from its own oval
shape.

Bullvalene

(tricyclo[3.3.2.02,8]deca-
3,6,9-triene) (C10H10), was
named by organic chemist
Maitland Jones Jr. for William
"Bull" Doering who predicted
its properties in 1963.[13][14]
Within a specific temperature
range the molecule is subject
to rapid degenerate Cope
rearrangements with the
result that all carbon atoms
and hydrogen atoms are
equivalent and that none of
the carbon–carbon bonds is
permanent.

Dickite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4), a clay-like

material with a number of
manufacturing uses, one of
which is as a coating for
high-quality bond paper. It is
named after its discoverer,
Allan Brugh Dick.[15]

Josiphos ligands A well-known catalyst,

named after Josi Puleo, the
technician who first prepared
it.[16] Mandyphos and
Taniaphos also exist.

Welshite A mineral named after the US

amateur mineralogist Wilfred
R. Welsh. Its formula is
Ca2SbMg4FeBe2Si4O20.

Named after fictional characters …

Alcindoromycine An anthracycline antibiotic agent
named after the character
Alcindoro in La Bohème.[17]

Bohemamine An anti-tumour agent named

after the Puccini opera La
Bohème.[17]

Collinemycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent

named after the character Colline
in La Bohème.[17]

Ranasmurfin A blue protein from the foam

nests of a tropical frog, named
after the Smurfs.

Mimimycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent

named after the character Mimì in
La Bohème.[17]

Musettamycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent

named after the character
Musetta in La Bohème.[17]

Marcellomycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent

named after the character
Marcello in La Bohème.[17]

Pikachurin A retinal protein named after

Pokémon character / species
Pikachu

Rudolphomycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent

named after the character
Rodolfo (Rudolph) in La Bohème.
[17][18]

Sonic hedgehog A protein named after Sonic the

Hedgehog

Related to sex …
Arsole (C4H5As), an analogue of
pyrrole in which an arsenic atom
replaces the nitrogen atom.[19]
The aromaticity of arsoles has
been debated for many years.[20] The
compound in which a benzene ring is
fused to arsole — typically on the carb
atoms 3 and 4 — is known as
benzarsole.[3]

(C9H12), an aromatic hydrocarbon used

Cumene
in the production of phenol and aceton

Cummingtonite ((Mg,Fe2+)2(Mg,Fe2+)5Si8O22(OH)2), a
magnesium-iron silicate hydroxide, firs
identified in Cummington,
Massachusetts.[3]

Tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphat
FAP
an anion used in some ionic liquids.[21]

Fornacite A rare lead, copper chromate arsenate

hydroxide mineral (Pb2CuCrO4AsO4OH
named after its discoverer, Lucien Lew
Forneau.[3]

Fucitol (C6H14O5), an alcohol

derived from Fucus
vesiculosus, a North
Atlantic seaweed. Its optical isomers
also called D-fuc-ol and L-fuc-ol.[3]

FucK The name of the gene that encodes L-

fuculokinase, an enzyme that catalyzes
a chemical reaction between L-fuculos
ADP, and L-fuculose-1-phosphate.[3]

Fukalite (Ca4Si2O6(CO3)(OH, F))2, a rare form o

calcium silicocarbonate discovered in
the Fuka Mine of Takahashi, Japan.[3]

Orotic acid Pyrimidinecarboxylic acid

has been referred to as
vitamin B13. Often
misspelled "erotic
acid".[3]

Pizda Abbreviated ligand name

of a substance 1-(2’’-
hydroxyl cyclohexyl)-3-
[aminopropyl]-4-[3’-
aminopropyl] piperazine,
first synthesized by a
group of Australian
chemists. In some Slavic
countries, the word pizda
is a vulgarism for "vagina" (see
Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/pizda).

Rhamnetin A flavonol dye derived

from buckthorn
(rhamnus).[22]

SEX An abbreviation of sodium ethyl

xanthate,[23] a flotation agent used in
the mining industry.

Spermine, growth factors involved

Spermidine in cellular metabolism.[3]

Related to bodily functions …

BARF (tetrakis[3,5-

bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate), a
fluoroaryl borate B(Ar(CF3)2)4−, used
as a non-coordinating anion[24]

catP The name of the enzyme responsible

for chloramphenicol resistance in
various species of bacteria.

Constipatic [2-(14-
acid hydroxypentadecyl)-4-
methyl-5-oxo-2,5-
dihydrofuran-3-carboxylic acid], an
aliphatic acid derived from the
Australian Xanthoparmelia lichen.[3][25]

Crapinon An anticholinergic drug, one side effect

of which is constipation.[3]

Diurea Organic compounds

containing two urea
units. Specific
examples include methylene diurea
and ethylene diurea.

dUMP Deoxyuridine
monophosphate, an
intermediate in
nucleotide metabolism

Earthcide, Some of the many names for

or Fartox pentachloronitrobenzene, a fungicide.
[26]

Nonanal (C9H18O), an aldehyde

derived from
nonane.[27]

PoO Chemical formula of polonium

monoxide.

Uranate The chemical term for an oxyanion of

the element uranium.[3]

Vomitoxin A mycotoxin occurring in

grains.[3]

Related to death and decay …

Cadaverine A foul-smelling diamine
produced by
putrefaction of dead animal
tissue.[3][28]

DEAD, Diethyl
DEADCAT azodicarboxylate: An
apt acronym, given that
diethyl azodicarboxylate is explosive;
shock sensitive; carcinogenic; and an
eye, skin, and respiratory irritant.[3]

Earthcide, Some of the many names for

or Fartox pentachloronitrobenzene, a fungicide.
[29]

Putrescine A foul-smelling diamine

produced by the
putrefaction of dead animal tissue.[3]

Related to religion or legend …

Angelic An organic acid found in garden
acid angelica (Angelica
archangelica), Umbelliferae, and many
other plants.

DAMN Diaminomaleonitrile, a
cyanocarbon that contains
two amine groups and two
nitrile groups bound to an ethylene
backbone.

Diabolic A series of long-chain dicarboxylic

acid acids with chains of different lengths.
Named after the Greek word diabollo
meaning to mislead.[30]

Draculin An anticoagulant found in the saliva of

vampire bats.[31]

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi coined the term

"ignose" to describe ascorbic acid,
which he isolated and published. When
the journal's editor refused to accept
Vitamin C ignose as a plausible name, Szent-
(Godnose) Gyorgyi suggested 'Godnose' (a joke
meaning that only God could know the
real identity of the molecule). The editor
suggested that the name be changed to
something more formal. [32]

A generic term for the class of oxidative

Luciferase enzymes that produce
bioluminescence.

Lucifer Yellow is a food coloring that is

commonly found in hot sauces such as
salsa pickle. Because it fluoresces
Lucifer
under ultraviolet light and stains certain
yellow
regions between plant cells, it's also
used in plant microscopy anatomy
studies.

Miraculin A glycoprotein found in miracle fruit

that makes sour foods taste sweet after
contact with taste buds.[33]

Sounds like a name (person, brand or

organization) …

Adamantane (tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane), a
crystalline cycloalkane,[34][35]
an isomer of twistane. Name
resembles that of English pop star
Adam Ant.[3]

Irene Hantzsch-Widman nomenclature for a

monocyclic, heterocyclic compound
with three ring atoms.[36]

Naftazone (C11H9N3O2), a vasoprotective drug.

The NAFTA free-trade zone is the
area covered by the North American
Free Trade Agreement.[37]

PEPPSI Pyridine-Enhanced Precatalyst

Preparation Stabilization and
Initiation.[38]

A part sounds like an English word …

Antipain works as a protease
inhibitor, preventing proteins
from being degraded. It is a
highly toxic compound that,
ironically, causes severe
itching or pain when it
Antipain
comes into contact with the
skin. Because it inhibits the
action of papain, an enzyme
found in papayas, its name is
actually an abbreviation of
anti-papain.

Bongkrek acid

Name sounds like a

combination of English
words related to recreational
drugs: bong; crack, a
preparation of cocaine; and
acid, a street name for
lysergic acid diethylamide.

Some Australian lichens, like

Parmelia constipata, have
this as a component.
Constipatic Acid Protoconstipatic acid,
dehydroconstipatic acid, and
methyl constipatate are all
constipatic acid derivatives.

Gardenins, which are

flavones extracted from the
Gardenin
Indian plant Gardenia lucida,
come in a variety of forms.
[39][40]
Hirsutene Is also
named after
an animal, a
goat (Hircus).

Magic acid A superacid consisting of a

mixture, most commonly in a
1:1 molar ratio, of
fluorosulfuric acid (HSO3F)
and antimony pentafluoride
(SbF5).

Megaphone A ketone derived from the

root of Aniba megaphylla.[41]

Mispickel An older name for the

mineral arsenopyrite, an iron
arsenic sulfide and major
source of the element
arsenic, sounds like 'miss
pickle'. From German.[42]

Moronic acid [3-

oxoolean-18-en-28-oic
acid], a natural triterpene

Noggin A signalling protein involved

in embryonic development.

Performic acid A strongly oxidizing acid

related to formic acid.

Periodic acid Or per-iodic

acid, is
pronounced
/ˌpɜːraɪˈɒdɪk/
PURR-eye-OD-ik and not
*/ˌpɪǝriˈɒdɪk/ PEER-ee-OD-ik.
It refers to one of two
interconvertible species:
HIO4 (metaperiodic acid), or
H5IO6 (orthoperiodic acid –
illustrated at right). The per-