International Union of Pure and Applied ChemistryIUPAC
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IUPAC - International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Definition
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is an international, non-governmental organization whose purpose is to address many global issues involving the chemical sciences. Their web site is https://iupac.org.
The primary goal of the IUPAC is fostering worldwide communications in the chemical sciences. To accomplish this task, it is imperative that chemists across all sectors use a common language. IUPAC is the recognized world authority on chemical nomenclature (system of naming), terminology, standardized methods for measurement, atomic weights and many other critically evaluated data.
IUPAC was formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia who recognized the need for international standardization in chemistry. The standardization of weights, measures, names and symbols is essential to the well being and continued success of the scientific enterprise and to the smooth development and growth of international trade and commerce.
IUPAC is an association of chemical societies that represent the chemists of 45 countries. Almost 1,000 chemists throughout the world are engaged on a voluntary basis in the scientific work of IUPAC.
"Quantities, Symbols, Units and Abbreviations in the Life Sciences: A Guide for Authors and Editors", Paperback, 152 pages, 1999. Estimated price $23.82. Info and/or order.
"Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry : Recommendations 2005", Hardcover, 340 pages, 2005. Estimated price $55.98. Info and/or order.
"Organic Nomenclature: A Programmed Introduction (6th Edition)", Paperback, 160 pages, 2008. Estimated price $63.02. Info and/or order.
"Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013", Paperback, 1,612 pages, 2013. Estimated price $201.20. Info and/or order.
"Systematic Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: A Directory to Comprehension and Application of its Basic Principles", Paperback, 228 pages, 2001. Estimated price $37.99. Info and/or order.
"Principles of Chemical Nomenclature: A Guide to IUPAC Recommendations 2011 Edition", Hardcover, 270 pages, 2011. Estimated price $28.98. Info and/or order.
"Systematic Nomenclature of Organic, Organometallic and Coordination Chemistry: Chemical-Abstracts Guidelines with IUPAC Recommendations and Many Trivial Names", Hardcover, 638 pages, January 2007. Estimated price $123.06. Info and/or order.
"The Etymology of Chemical Names: Tradition and Convenience Vs. Rationality in Chemical Nomenclature ", Hardcover, 519 pages, 2019. Estimated price $103.80. Info and/or order.
Chemicals named according to IUPAC nomenclature are unique and allow one to quickly find health or safety information unlike a chemical formula or trivial name. In one sense, IUPAC names function in the same way as a CAS number, although CAS numbers are usually much more compact.
A given chemical can be known by many other names, not just the IUPAC-recommended one. Some are referred to with shorthand slang, abbreviations, acronyms, and older or trivial names. For example, N,N-dimethylformamide is the preferred name for the molecule shown below, but it is also known as dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylmethanamide, and DMF. Likewise, propan-2-one is the IUPAC name for a chemical that is also called dimethyl ketone, dimethyl carbonyl, propanone, 2-propanone, and many others, but is most commonly called acetone:
Regardless, no matter how many names a molecule has, each has only one unique CAS number.
Further Reading
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