What is the difference between a generic and a brand-name medication?

The correct answer is that a generic has the same chemical name as a brand name. This indicates that both generic and brand-name medications contain the same active ingredient, providing the same therapeutic effect for patients. The chemical name identifies the specific molecular structure of the medication, and because generics are designed to emulate the formulation of their brand-name counterparts, they share this chemical composition.

Brand-name medications are developed by pharmaceutical companies under a specific trademarked name, which is often catchy or unique for marketing purposes. Conversely, generic medications are typically sold without the branding, often at a lower cost, and may be manufactured by multiple companies once the original patent for the brand-name drug expires.

In the context of the other options, the marketed name and the chemical name refer to different aspects of a drug, which invalidates the first option. The notion that generics are more expensive contradicts the common understanding that generics are usually less expensive than their brand-name equivalents, so the second option is misleading. Lastly, generics can indeed come in various forms (tablets, capsules, liquids, etc.), not just one, which makes the final option incorrect.