04 May 2011

Molecules with unusual names

Pictured at the left is HAMLET - an acronym for Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells ("Diseases desperate grown, By desperate appliance are relieved, Or not at all.").

It's one of an impressive number of molecules and compounds catalogued at Molecules with Silly or Unusual Names.  Some will be familiar to those with a science background; most are quite obscure, including "arsole," "moronic acid," and "diurea."  (Note that when you get to the bottom of the linked page, there are three additional pages, the last of which is replete with additional anecdotes and links to chemistry humor sites. 

If the site interests you, you might also explore the Science Humor Netring.

Recommended by Miss C.

2 comments:

  1. Also, http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow...it's amazing to see that that page is still around. I still send that link to people sometimes, even though I've had it bookmarked for about a decade.

    ReplyDelete

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