Page 71 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

ACETAMINOPHEN

(1848–1920) re-discovered and synthesized the compound in
Acetaminophen. Red atoms
1873. Even then, the medicinal qualities of the compound
are oxygen; white atoms are
hydrogen; black atoms are were not appreciated for another twenty years, and the com-
carbon; and blue atom is pound was not even prescribed or used by doctors until 1949.
nitrogen. Gray sticks indicate
Since that time, however, it has become extremely popular,
double bonds. PUBLISHERS
exceeded only by aspirin as the most popular analgesic sold
RESOU R CE G R OUP
in the world.
HOW IT IS MADE
Acetaminophen is made in a straight-forward reaction
between p-aminophenol [C 6 H 4 (OH)(NH 2 )] and acetic anhy-
dride [(CH 3 CO) 2 O]. As its formula shows, the p-aminophenol
provides the basic structure from which acetaminophen is
formed, with the acetic anhydride adding the -CH 3 CO group
of atoms needed to complete the compound.

COMMON USES AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS
In addition to its use as a pain reliever, acetaminophen
has a number of industrial uses, including:

20 CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS