Chemical nomenclature, replete as it is with compounds with very complex names, is a repository for some names that may be considered unusual. A browse through the Physical Constants of Organic Compounds in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (a fundamental resource) will reveal not just the whimsical work of chemists, but the sometimes peculiar compound names that occur as the consequence of simple juxtaposition. Some names derive legitimately from their chemical makeup, from the geographic region where they may be found, the plant or animal species from which they are isolated or the name of the discoverer.

Some are given intentionally unusual trivial names based on their structure, a notable property or at the whim of those who first isolate them. However, many trivial names predate formal naming conventions. Trivial names can also be ambiguous or carry different meanings in different industries, geographic regions and languages.

Godly noted that "Trivial names having the status of INN or ISO are carefully tailor-made for their field of use and are internationally accepted". In his preface to Chemical Nomenclature, Thurlow wrote that "Chemical names do not have to be deadly serious". A website in existence since 1997 and maintained at the University of Bristol lists a selection of "molecules with silly or unusual names" strictly for entertainment. These so-called silly or funny trivial names (depending on culture) can also serve an educational purpose. In an article in the Journal of Chemical Education, Dennis Ryan argues that students of organic nomenclature (considered a "dry and boring" subject) may actually take an interest in it when tasked with the job of converting funny-sounding chemical trivial names to their proper systematic names.

The collection listed below presents a sample of trivial names and gives an idea how chemists are inspired when they coin a brand new name for a chemical compound outside of systematic naming. It also includes some examples of systematic names and acronyms that accidentally resemble English words.

Elements

Glenn Seaborg told his students that he proposed the chemical symbol Pu (from P U) instead of the conventional "Pl" for plutonium as a joke, only to find it officially adopted.Glenn T. Seaborg, Citizen-Scholar , By Peggy House, Reprinted from The Seaborg Center Bulletin, April 1999 Unununium (Uuu) was the former temporary name of the chemical element number 111, a synthetic transuranium element. This element was named roentgenium (Rg) in November 2004.

Compounds

Name based on shape Barrelene C8H8, the name derives from the resemblance to a barrel. Basketane pentacyclo[4.4.0.02,5.03,8.04,7]decane (C10H12), a polycyclic alkane with a structure similar to a basket. Bowtiediene Spiropentadiene, a polycyclic alkene with a 2D projection similar to a bowtie. Churchane A polycyclic alkane named "churchane" because it looks superficially like a church. Cubane A hydrocarbon whose eight carbon atoms occupy the vertices of a cube. Dodecahedrane A Platonic hydrocarbon shaped like a dodecahedron. Fenestrane (Windowpane) A class of compounds with a structural formula that resembles a "window pane motif" (the name fenestrane derives from the Latin word fenestra, meaning window), comprising four fused carbocycles centred on a quaternary carbon resulting in a twice-over spiro compound. The illustration at right shows a generic fenestrane as well as the specific example [4,4,4,4]fenestrane. Fenestranes are of considerable interest in theoretical chemistry though comparatively few have actually been synthesised. Housane A polycyclic alkane named "housane" because it looks superficially like a house. Ladderane An organic molecule that looks like a ladder because it contains two or more fused rings of cyclobutane.NanokidNanokids belong to a series of NanoPutians, a series of organic molecules whose structural formula resemble human forms. "NanoPutian" is a portmanteau of nano-, a unit prefix meaning one billionth, and lilliputian, a fictional race of humans in the novel Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. There are no chemical or practical uses for the NanoKid molecule or any of its known derivatives. Olympiadane A mechanically-interlocked compound based on the topology for the Olympic rings. Olympicene Refers to the fused 5-benzene rings (C19H12), which is reminiscent of the Olympic Flag. Paddlanes Paddlanes are tricyclic molecules that resemble the paddles on steamboats.PagodaneAn organic compound which resembles a pagoda. Penguinone 3,4,4,5-tetramethylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone; a two-dimensional representation of its structure resembles a penguin. Pterodactylane -ladderanes with substituents on the central rung. So named for their resemblance to a Pterodactyl. Prismane A valence isomer of benzene with the carbon atoms arranged in the shape of a triangular prism. Propellanes Propellanes are tricyclic molecules that resemble propellers. Quadratic acid A square-shaped organic compound, also called squaric acid. Sulflower A stable heterocyclic octacirculene based on thiophene, named as a portmanteau of sulfur and sunflower.VolleyballeneMolecule composed of 60 carbon and 20 scandium atoms, which has an appearance similar to that of a volleyball.

Named after people Buckminsterfullerene (Fullerene) Also called the buckyball, this is an allotrope of carbon named after Richard Buckminster Fuller due to its resemblance to Fuller's geodesic domes. The term was coined by Harold Kroto. The alternative name footballene was coined by A.D.J. Haymet because the molecule also resembles a football; the 70-atom version is said to resemble a rugby ball from its own oval shape. Bullvalene (tricyclo[3.3.2.02,8]deca-3,6,9-triene) (C10H10), was named by organic chemist Maitland Jones Jr. for William "Bull" Doering who predicted its properties in 1963. Within a specific temperature range the molecule is subject to rapid degenerate Cope rearrangements with the result that all carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms are equivalent and that none of the carbon–carbon bonds is permanent. Dickite (), a clay-like material with a number of manufacturing uses, one of which is as a coating for high-quality bond paper. It is named after its discoverer, Allan Brugh Dick. Josiphos ligands A well-known catalyst, named after Josi Puleo, the technician who first prepared it. Mandyphos and Taniaphos also exist. Welshite A mineral named after the US amateur mineralogist Wilfred R. Welsh. Its formula is Ca2SbMg4FeBe2Si4O20.

Named after fictional characters Alcindoromycine An anthracycline antibiotic agent named after the character Alcindoro in La Bohème.Nettleton DE Jr, Balitz DM, Doyle TW, Bradner WT, Johnson DL, O'Herron FA, Schreiber RH, Coon AB, Moseley JE, Myllymaki RW, J Nat Prod. 1980 Mar–Apr;43(2):242–258.

DOI: 10.1021/np50008a003 Bohemamine An anti-tumour agent named after the Puccini opera La Bohème. Collinemycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent named after the character Colline in La Bohème. Ranasmurfin A blue protein from the foam nests of a tropical frog, named after The Smurfs. Mimimycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent named after the character Mimì in La Bohème. Musettamycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent named after the character Musetta in La Bohème. Marcellomycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent named after the character Marcello in La Bohème. Pikachurin A retinal protein named after Pokémon character / species Pikachu. Rudolphomycin An anthracycline antibiotic agent named after the character Rodolfo (Rudolph) in La Bohème. Sonic hedgehog A protein named after Sonic the Hedgehog.

Related to sex Arsole (C4H5As), an analogue of pyrrole in which an arsenic atom replaces the nitrogen atom. The aromaticity of arsoles has been debated for many years. The compound in which a benzene ring is fused to arsole — typically on the carbon atoms 3 and 4 — is known as benzarsole.clitorin(C33H40O19), a natural plant-derived flavonol glycoside studied in scientific research for its antioxidant properties.Cumene (C9H12), an aromatic hydrocarbon used in the production of phenol and acetone. Cummingtonite ((Mg,Fe2+)2(Mg,Fe2+)5Si8O22(OH)2), a magnesium-iron silicate hydroxide, first identified in Cummington, Massachusetts.FAPTris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, an anion used in some ionic liquids. Fornacite A rare lead, copper chromate arsenate hydroxide mineral (Pb2CuCrO4AsO4OH), named after its discoverer, Lucien Lewis Forneau. Fucitol (C6H14O5), an alcohol derived from Fucus vesiculosus, a North Atlantic seaweed. Its optical isomers are also called D-fuc-ol and L-fuc-ol. FucK The name of the gene that encodes L-fuculokinase, an enzyme that catalyzes a chemical reaction between L-fuculose, ADP, and L-fuculose-1-phosphate. Fukalite (, a rare form of calcium silicocarbonate discovered in the Fuka Mine of Takahashi, Japan. Orotic acid Pyrimidinecarboxylic acid has been referred to as vitamin B13. Often misspelled "erotic acid". Pizda Abbreviated ligand name of a substance 1-(2’’-hydroxyl cyclohexyl)-3-[aminopropyl]-4-[3’-aminopropyl] piperazine, first synthesized by a group of Australian chemists. In Romanian and some Slavic languages, the word pizda is a vulgarism for "vulva" (see Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/pizda). Pregnane A steroid that has a similar structure to Progesterone, a sex hormone found in pregnancy Rhamnetin A flavonol dye derived from buckthorn (rhamnus).Uri J, Csoban G, Viragh E., Acta Physiol Hung. 1951;2(2):223-8. SEX An abbreviation of sodium ethyl xanthate,See, for example, a flotation agent used in the mining industry. Spermine,Spermidine growth factors involved in cellular metabolism.

Related to bodily functions BARF (tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate), a fluoroaryl borate B(Ar(CF3)2)4−, used as a non-coordinating anion catP The name of the enzyme responsible for chloramphenicol resistance in various species of bacteria. Constipatic acid [2-(14-hydroxypentadecyl)-4-methyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-carboxylic acid], an aliphatic acid derived from the Australian Xanthoparmelia lichen. Crapinon An anticholinergic drug, one side effect of which is constipation. Diurea Organic compounds containing two urea moieties. Specific examples include methylene diurea and ethylene diurea. dUMP Deoxyuridine monophosphate, an intermediate in nucleotide metabolism Earthcide,or Fartox Some of the many names for pentachloronitrobenzene, a fungicide. Nonanal (C9H18O), an aldehyde derived from nonane. PoO Chemical formula of polonium monoxide. Uranate The chemical term for an oxyanion of the element uranium. Vomitoxin A mycotoxin occurring in grains.

Related to death and decay Cadaverine A foul-smelling diamine produced by putrefaction of dead animal tissue. DEAD, DEADCAT Diethyl azodicarboxylate: An apt acronym, given that diethyl azodicarboxylate is explosive, shock sensitive, carcinogenic, and an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Earthcide,or Fartox Some of the many names for pentachloronitrobenzene, a fungicide. Putrescine A foul-smelling diamine produced by the putrefaction of dead animal tissue.

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