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benzimidazole

benzimidazole

1 9.7
A chemical shape with two joined rings used in many medicines and in research
  • noun
  • /ˌbɛn.zɪˈmɪd.əˌzoʊl/
  • Specialized
: benzimidazol
  • Scientists are exploring new applications for benzimidazole in cancer treatment due to its unique chemical properties.

Examples

  • In pharmaceuticals, researchers often use benzimidazole for its effectiveness against parasitic infections.

  • Thiabendazole has been widely used, and recently several other anthelmintics have been developed and approved for use in adult horses, including benzimidazole compounds (Drudge et al., 1975).

    Academic text (2015)
  • The veterinarian prescribed a medication containing benzimidazole to treat the horse's worm infestation.

Surface Forms

benzimidazole singular

Morphology

benzimidazole = benzene + imidazole (semi-transparent) = benzo + imidazole

The term combines chemical name components ('benzo-' indicating a benzene-derived portion and 'imidazole'), but these are technical combining forms and not obvious to general learners.

Etymology

The word benzimidazole is made from benzene, a six-sided 'ring' of atoms, and imidazole, a small ring that contains nitrogen. So a benzimidazole is a chemical where these two rings are 'joined', which is why the name describes the structure often found in medicines.