Cadaverin

/kəˈdævərɪn/ noun

Definition

A poisonous chemical compound produced when proteins in dead organisms decay.

Etymology

From Latin 'cadaver' (corpse) plus the chemical suffix '-in.' Scientists coined this term in the 19th century when studying decomposition.

Kelly Says

Cadaverin is one of the 'putrescines' that makes rotting flesh smell so terrible—it's literally your body's molecules breaking down into simpler toxins!

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