barbituric acid
C2Technical/Scientific
Definition
Meaning
A crystalline organic compound from which barbiturate drugs are derived.
The parent compound in the synthesis of sedative and hypnotic barbiturate medications. In broader scientific contexts, it refers to the fundamental heterocyclic structure (pyrimidinetrione).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used in chemistry, pharmacology, and forensic science. The term itself refers to the acid, while its derivatives (barbiturates) are the commonly known drugs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation of 'acid' may follow regional patterns (/ˈæsɪd/ vs /ˈæsəd/).
Connotations
Neutral scientific term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[barbituric acid] + [verb: is, was, forms, yields] + [noun phrase][adjective] + [barbituric acid] + [prepositional phrase: in synthesis, from urea]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology textbooks and research papers discussing drug synthesis or history.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in laboratory manuals, forensic reports, and pharmaceutical patent documents.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The barbituric acid derivative showed potent effects.
- They studied the barbituric acid structure in detail.
American English
- The barbituric acid derivative demonstrated potent effects.
- They analyzed the barbituric acid structure in detail.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Barbituric acid is a chemical used to make some medicines.
- Barbituric acid, first synthesised in the 19th century, is the key precursor for all barbiturate drugs.
- The forensic report mentioned detecting traces of barbituric acid in the sample.
- The condensation of malonic acid with urea yields barbituric acid, a reaction fundamental to understanding heterocyclic chemistry in pharmacology.
- Although barbituric acid itself possesses no sedative properties, its molecular framework allows for the synthesis of numerous compounds with profound central nervous system activity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BARBIE (the doll) + TURIC (sounds like 'tic' – a nervous condition). A 'Barbie' for a nervous condition? No – it's the acid used to make sedatives.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION/BLUEPRINT (It is the foundational chemical blueprint from which many sedative drugs are built.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'барбитураты' (barbiturates). 'Barbituric acid' is specifically 'барбитуровая кислота'.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as 'bar-bit-your-ic'. The stress is on the third syllable: bar-bi-TUR-ic.
- Using it interchangeably with 'barbiturate'. The acid is not itself a drug.
- Misspelling as 'barbituic' or 'barbuturic'.
Practice
Quiz
Barbituric acid is primarily significant because it is:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, barbituric acid itself is not a pharmacologically active drug. It is the core chemical structure from which active barbiturate drugs (like phenobarbital) are derived.
You would encounter it almost exclusively in specialised contexts: chemistry labs, pharmaceutical research papers, forensic science reports, or advanced pharmacology textbooks.
Barbituric acid is the specific organic compound (C4H4N2O3). Barbiturates are a broad class of drugs that are chemical derivatives of barbituric acid, modified to have sedative, hypnotic, or anticonvulsant effects.
Barbituric acid was first synthesised in 1864 by the German chemist Adolf von Baeyer, allegedly named after Saint Barbara or a woman named Barbara.