E.W. Godly 曾在他的著作中寫道:「國際非專利藥品名稱(INN)或國際標準化組織(ISO)所認可的慣用名都是根據它們所在的領域謹慎地選取的,並已得到國際上廣泛的認可[1]。」在《化學物質的系統命名法(Chemical Nomenclature)》的前言,Thurlow 卻寫道:「化學物質的命名不必那麼死板[2]。」 布里斯托大學的某網站[3]就列出了一系列「名字荒唐可笑或稀奇古怪的分子」以供娛樂。這些滑稽的名字在教學上也是有一定的意義的。《化學教育期刊(英語:Journal of Chemical Education)》的一篇文章指出,把滑稽的慣用名轉成正式命名的小練習能讓學生在學習枯燥的有機化學系統命名時得到一定的樂趣。[4]
Zimmerman, Howard E.;; Robert M. Paufler. Bicyclo [2.2.2]octa-2,5,7-triene (barrelene), a unique cyclic six electron pi system. Journal of the American Chemical Society: 1514–1515. doi:10.1021/ja01491a071.
Verbrugge, P. A. Unusual organic compounds. XXIV. Compounds with the formula (CH)n. (d). Synthesis of cubane, (CH)8; homocubanes. Chemie en Techniek (Amsterdam). 1977, 32 (4): 120–123.
Nordenström, Björn E. W. Effect of cadaverine and lysine on the urinary excretion of piperidine in rabbits. Acta pharmacologica et toxicologica. 1951, 7 (3): 287–296. PMID 14856760. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0773.1951.tb02870.x.
G. Märkl & H. Hauptmann. Untersuchungen zur Chemie der Arsole 1,1-dichlor-1-R-λ5-arsole-1-chlorarsole 2,2′,5,5′-tetraphenyldiarsolyl (Studies on the chemistry of arsoles). J. Organomet. Chem. 1983-06-14, 248 (3): 269–285. doi:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)98709-6.
Alex Nickon and Ernest F. Silversmith, "Organic Chemistry, the Name Game: Modern Coined Terms and Their Origins", Pergamon 1987. ISBN0-08-034481-X.
Randall, David. Storyville: Molecular scientists have a word for it. The Independent on Sunday (London, England). February 1, 2004.
Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Amy. 24. Molecules and amoebas with funny names. The new book of lists : the original compendium of curious information. New York, NY: Canongate. 2005: 203–205. ISBN 9781841957197.