The Preferred IUPAC Name Is Lame

Iupac Nomenclature Organic chemistry Neopentane Chemical names Lab jargon

Chemistry Science

15 days ago 3,136 views 0 shares

The Preferred IUPAC Name Is Lame

chemistry-memes, iupac-memes, nomenclature-memes, organic-chemistry-memes, neopentane-memes | ScienceHumor.io

This is what happens when chemists get bored with IUPAC's systematic naming conventions and decide to flex their creativity. The meme shows the evolution of a chemist's brain as they use increasingly cooler nicknames for the exact same molecule (C₅H₁₂).

Starting with the formal "2,2-Dimethylpropane" (boring, no brain activity), then progressing to "Neopentane" (brain lighting up), then the shorthand "Tetramethylmethane (CMe₄)" (brain getting hotter), followed by "tert-butylmethane (t-BuMe)" (brain reaching enlightenment), and finally the rebel "1,1,1-Trimethylethane" (cosmic brain explosion).

It's like watching someone transform from "formal email to professor" to "3 AM text to lab partner." The molecule hasn't changed at all—just the chemist's willingness to thumb their nose at IUPAC conventions. Who needs systematic naming when you can sound cool instead?

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