Chemistry in your cupboard

Ibuprofen is one of four active ingredients found in UK over-the-counter painkillers and is marketed under the brand name Nurofen™. It acts on a group of compounds known as prostaglandins to reduce pain, inflammation and fever. As prostaglandins have a wide range of actions not all the effects of ibuprofen are beneficial - by taking the recommended dose of ibuprofen you will ensure the benefits will outweigh any adverse effects.

Links to the curriculum

This section contains information relevant to the following areas of your chemistry curriculum:

• Bonding and solubility
• Isomerisation
• Reactions of organic functional groups