valproic acid

English

Chemical structure of valproic acid

Etymology

From valeric acid +‎ propyl.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /vælˌpɹəʊ.ɪk ˈæs.ɪd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /vælˌpɹoʊ.ɪk ˈæs.ɪd/

Noun

valproic acid (uncountable)

1. (organic chemistry, pharmacology) A synthetic crystalline compound with anticonvulsant properties, used (generally as salts) in the treatment of epilepsy.

Coordinate terms

• valproate (coordinate as a base versus an acid, but synonymous in the practical sense that the conjugate base and conjugate acid coexist in solution)

Translations

drug

• Finnish: valproiinihappo

References

• “valproic acid”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “valproic acid”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.