Overview

Amoxicillin (uh-MOX-uh-sill-in) is also known as D-(-)-alpha-amino-p-hydroxybenzyl penicillin and (2S,5R,6R)-6-[(R)-(-)-2-amino-2-(phydroxyphenyl)acetamido]-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylic acid. It is an off-white crystalline antibiotic, a substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms. It is generally available in the form of the trihydrate (having three molecules of water for each molecule of amoxicillin) with the formula C₁₆H₁₉N₃O₅S·₃H₂O. Amoxicillin is effective against a number of disease-causing bacteria, including streptococci, the bacterium that cause strep throat, and most strains of pneumo cocci, the bacterium that cause pneumonia, gonococci, the bacterium that cause gonorrhea, and meningococci, the bacterium that cause meningitis. Amoxicillin works by blocking the formation of bacteria cell walls. Without cell walls, the bacteria die.

Key Facts

Other Names:

See Overview.

Formula:

C₁₆H₁₉N₃O₅S

Elements:

Carbon...