acetanilide
Definition
- Noun:
- A white crystalline compound used as an analgesic and also as an antipyretic: Acetanilide is a synthetic chemical substance, appearing as white crystals or flakes, historically used in medicine to relieve pain (analgesic) and reduce fever (antipyretic).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Acetanilide was one of the first synthetic fever-reducing drugs.
- The laboratory synthesis of acetanilide is a common undergraduate chemistry experiment.
- Due to its toxicity, acetanilide has been largely replaced by safer analgesics like acetaminophen.
Advanced Usage
Chemical Context: In organic chemistry, acetanilide is a standard compound for teaching purification techniques like recrystallization.
- The purity of the synthesized acetanilide was confirmed by its melting point.
Historical Medical Context: Refers to its use in late 19th and early 20th-century medicine before its harmful side effects were fully understood.
- Acetanilide, marketed under names like 'Antifebrin', was a popular remedy before the development of aspirin.
Variants and Related Words
- Acetanilid: An alternative, less common spelling for acetanilide.
- Phenacetin: A related chemical compound derived from acetanilide, which was also used as an analgesic and antipyretic.
Synonyms
- N-Phenylacetamide: The systematic IUPAC name for the chemical compound.
- Antifebrin: A former brand name for acetanilide when used medicinally.
Notes on Meaning
- Primary Meaning: The term almost exclusively refers to the specific chemical compound with the formula C₆H₅NH(COCH₃). Its use is now primarily technical (chemical, historical, or pharmaceutical) rather than in general language.
- Important Distinction: While it shares analgesic and antipyretic properties with modern drugs like acetaminophen (paracetamol), acetanilide is a distinct and more toxic substance. They are not interchangeable terms.
Noun
-
a white crystalline compound used as an analgesic and also as an antipyretic
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