Acetylsalicylic acid

[Lanell]

The active ingredient in [asprin] and one of the ingredients in [Alka-Seltzer]. Acetylsalicylic acid (or its various translations) may be used as a generic term in countries where [Bayers] trademark claim to asprin was not invalidated after World War I (e.g., Germany, Canada, Mexico).
The term may also see use where it is desired to refer to the pure chemical, as opposed to any medical formulations. It may also see use where the person saying it wants to sound scientific or very intelligent.

[Gregory]

The scientific term for Aspirin. In many countries, notably Canada and Germany, Aspirin is a patented trademark of the local [Bayer] subsidiaries. Any non-Bayer products are labelled with the abbreviation ASA ([Canadian English]), [AAS] (Canadian French), and ASS (German). I am not making the last one up!