Hexylresorcinol

/ˌhɛksɪlrɪˈzɔːrsɪnɔːl/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound combining a hexyl group with resorcinol, used in medicine as an antiseptic and in some throat lozenges and mouthwashes.

Etymology

From hexyl (six-carbon chain) + resorcinol (a benzene derivative), a compound created by chemists to enhance the antimicrobial properties of resorcinol.

Kelly Says

Hexylresorcinol was a popular ingredient in cough drops and mouthwash before modern antibiotics took over—it's one of those old-school remedies that actually worked, though scientists later found even better alternatives.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.