Acetamide

/ˌæsɪˈtæmaɪd/ noun

Definition

A colorless crystalline compound made from acetic acid, used in medications like Tylenol, textiles, and industrial processes.

Etymology

From acetic acid + amide (nitrogen-containing functional group). Named systematically in the 19th century when chemists could synthesize it and understood its structure.

Kelly Says

Acetamide is the parent compound of acetaminophen (Tylenol)—by modifying its structure with a phenol group, chemists created one of the world's most popular pain relievers.

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