A new stamp honoring biochemist Gerty Cori was accidentally designed with an error in a chemical formula.
Despite the mistake, the Postal Service is going forward with plans to release the stamp on March 6 as part of a set of four stamps honoring American scientists.
The error was made in the placement of a line in the chemical formula.
So what IS the error
So, exactly which line is placed incorrectly?
It is difficult to see in this picture, but the formula of the phosphate group is incorrect. The subscript “3” is after the wrong oxygen. It should be after the first oxygen as you read the formula from left to right. The 2- charge should also be moved to left of the first oxygen.
OR, the line should be connected to the first O on the left side of the phosphate.