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sErgEantaEgis
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15 May 2013, 7:44 am

At my dentist's recomendation, I need to brush my teeth with Hydrogen Peroxyde, and I just wondered, if it's H202, why don't we just call it Dihydrogen Dioxyde?

Is a chemistry nerd able to enlighten me here?



BTDT
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15 May 2013, 9:26 am

People don't like to change familiar names.



The_Hemulen
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15 May 2013, 2:03 pm

I think it's more informative to keep the word peroxide in there as it gives a better clue to reactivity.

IUPAC would also have us refer to water as dihydrogen monoxide. Feel like changing to that name? :lol:



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15 May 2013, 2:34 pm

No need, really. Why does it matter?



Fnord
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15 May 2013, 2:35 pm

^ It's an Aspie thing...

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PsychoSarah
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15 May 2013, 2:38 pm

I'm autistic and into chemistry, but this does not concern me.



Fnord
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15 May 2013, 2:40 pm

I'm autistic and took chemistry classes to earn my engineering degree, but this does not really concern me, either.



PsychoSarah
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15 May 2013, 2:49 pm

No one is going to answer this guy's question, for lack of giving a crap.



Stargazer43
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15 May 2013, 4:32 pm

According to my brief google search, it was named before the IUPAC naming system came out. Regardless, I'd say that many chemicals have common names that are used in replace of their technical or IUPAC names. For example, Acetone is a common one, but it's formal name is Propan-2-one. Wouldn't want to go around saying that all the time, would we?



naturalplastic
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15 May 2013, 8:23 pm

Dihydrogen monoxide is the latest threat to America's youth!

Once you start 'doing' it - its is instantly addicting!

In fact- Ive never heard of ANY one ever giving up dihydrogen monoxide, and living!

Its better known by its "street name" though.



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17 May 2013, 9:51 pm

alright, the prefix "per" is used in chemistry to mean 'one more than the usual'--just as "sesqui" means 'one and a half'--


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The_Walrus
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20 May 2013, 6:08 pm

Hydrochloric acid is the one that annoys me the most. I mean, you could argue that's a tautology. It's also inconsistent with all the other common acids. Nobody ever used hydrosulfuric acid or hydronitric acid, and let's not even get started on the carboxylic acids and by extension other organic molecules...