A synthetic antibacterial compound formerly used in soaps and cosmetics to kill bacteria and prevent infections.
From 'hexa-' (six) plus 'chlor-' (chlorine) plus '-aphene' from naphthalene, a hydrocarbon. This pharmaceutical term was coined in the 1950s when researchers synthesized new antimicrobial molecules.
This chemical was in literally millions of showers and bathrooms in the 1960s-70s, then got banned because scientists discovered it might not be safe—a perfect example of 'seem safe, then oops.'
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