Tag: Organic chemistry

Introduced commercially by Bayer in 1899, acetylsalicylic acid—known as aspirin—is a widely consumed analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. Understanding the chemical mechanism of salicylic acid to aspirin is essential for appreciating how this effective drug is synthesized from a less tolerated natural precursor via a classic organic chemistry reaction.

In a testament to how complex chemical nomenclature can be, the single name **acetal** commonly refers to two completely different substances—a durable, high-performance thermoplastic polymer known as polyoxymethylene (POM) and a volatile organic compound formally called 1,1-diethoxyethane. This dual identity is a source of confusion, especially when comparing its medical or industrial applications.

Sulfonamide drugs were among the first broadly effective antibacterials used systemically, and a key example is sulfacetamide. But what is the chemical structure of sulfacetamide and what makes it an effective antibiotic?

The sulfonamide functional group, also known as sulphonamide, was first discovered in Germany in 1932 and became the basis for the first synthetic antibacterial drugs. So, what is the structure of sulphonamide? It is an organosulfur group, R-SO₂-NR'R'', that is a crucial component in many important medications.