Guaiacol

/ɡwaɪˈækɔl/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound derived from guaiac resin, used in medicines and as a disinfectant.

Etymology

From guaiac plus the chemical suffix -ol, used to name organic compounds. Coined in the 19th century when chemists began isolating active components from plant materials.

Kelly Says

Guaiacol was one of the first compounds extracted from a tropical plant remedy and studied scientifically, marking the beginning of how pharmaceutical companies turn folk medicines into modern drugs.

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