A broad-spectrum antimicrobial chemical used in mouth rinses, hand sanitizers, and medical disinfectants to kill bacteria and fungi.
From chlor- (chlorine) + hexidine (a chemical chain structure). Synthesized in 1945 as a disinfectant; the name reflects its molecular structure with chlorine atoms and a hexamethylene chain.
Chlorhexidine is everywhere in medicine—from surgical scrubs to mouthwash—because it kills a huge range of microbes, but interestingly, bacteria have recently started evolving resistance to it in some cases, showing nature's adaptability.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.