10 Bizarre Names and Strange Origins of Real Molecules

[Swede]

10. Fucitol
Fucitol is a happy accident bestowed by the forefathers of chemistry nomenclature. The alcohol form of the sugar fucose, fucitol is the obvious choice based on naming conventions, and researchers decided to keep the molecule's systematically determined name.





http://io9.com/5863943/10-bizarre-names-and-strange-origins-of-real-molecules?tag=mad-science

[hootinholler]

1. Now in prescription strength

[sakabatou]

2. 4. Pikachurin

A retinal protein named for its nimble behavior and their affection for a certain Pokémon. Pikachurin is of some use, garnering the cover of Nature (the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue of academia), and could one day be used as a treatment for the visual condition retinitis pigmentosa. I'm petitioning the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to name a protein holofoil Charizard.