| International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry | |
| Membership: | International Science Council |
| Abbreviation: | IUPAC |
| Type: | International non-governmental organization, standards organization |
| Headquarters: | Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States |
| Region Served: | Worldwide |
| Language: | English |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: |  Ehud Keinan[1] |
| Leader Title2: | Vice President |
| Leader Name2: |  Mary Garson |
| Leader Title3: | Secretary General |
| Leader Name3: |  Zoltan Mester |
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations working for the advancement of the chemical sciences, especially by developing nomenclature and terminology. It is a member of the International Science Council (ISC).[2] IUPAC is registered in Zürich, Switzerland, and the administrative office, known as the "IUPAC Secretariat", is in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States. IUPAC's executive director heads this administrative office,[3] currently Greta Heydenrych.[4]
IUPAC was established in 1919 as the successor of the International Congress of Applied Chemistry for the advancement of chemistry. Its members, the National Adhering Organizations, can be national chemistry societies, national academies of sciences, or other bodies representing chemists. There are fifty-four National Adhering Organizations and three Associate National Adhering Organizations. IUPAC's Inter-divisional Committee on Nomenclature and Symbols (IUPAC nomenclature) is the recognized world authority in developing standards for naming the chemical elements and compounds. Since its creation, IUPAC has been run by many different committees with different responsibilities.[5] These committees run different projects which include standardizing nomenclature,[6] finding ways to bring chemistry to the world,[7] and publishing works.[8] [9] [10]
IUPAC is best known for its works standardizing nomenclature in chemistry, but IUPAC has publications in many science fields including chemistry, biology, and physics.[11] Some important work IUPAC has done in these fields includes standardizing nucleotide base sequence code names; publishing books for environmental scientists, chemists, and physicists; and improving education in science.[12] IUPAC is also known for standardizing the atomic weights of the elements through one of its oldest standing committees, the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW).
The need for an international standard for chemistry was first addressed in 1860 by a committee headed by German scientist Friedrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz. This committee was the first international conference to create an international naming system for organic compounds. The ideas that were formulated at that conference evolved into the official IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry. IUPAC stands as a legacy of this meeting, making it one of the most important historical international collaborations of chemistry societies. Since this time, IUPAC has been the official organization held with the responsibility of updating and maintaining official organic nomenclature.[13] IUPAC as such was established in 1919.[14] One notable country excluded from this early IUPAC is Germany. Germany's exclusion was a result of prejudice towards Germans by the Allied powers after World War I.[15] Germany was finally admitted into IUPAC in 1929. However, Nazi Germany was removed from IUPAC during World War II.
During World War II, IUPAC was affiliated with the Allied powers, but had little involvement during the war effort itself. After the war, East and West Germany were readmitted to IUPAC in 1973.[16] Since World War II, IUPAC has been focused on standardizing nomenclature and methods in science without interruption.
In 2016, IUPAC denounced the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon. The organization pointed out their concerns in a letter to Ahmet Üzümcü, the director of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in regards to the practice of utilizing chlorine for weapon usage in Syria among other locations. The letter stated, "Our organizations deplore the use of chlorine in this manner. The indiscriminate attacks, possibly carried out by a member state of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), are of concern to chemical scientists and engineers around the globe and we stand ready to support your mission of implementing the CWC." According to the CWC, "the use, stockpiling, distribution, development or storage of any chemical weapons is forbidden by any of the 192 state party signatories."[17]
IUPAC is governed by several committees that all have different responsibilities. The committees are as follows: Bureau, CHEMRAWN (Chem Research Applied to World Needs) Committee, Committee on Chemistry Education, Committee on Chemistry and Industry, Committee on Printed and Electronic Publications, Evaluation Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Interdivisional Committee on Terminology, Nomenclature and Symbols, Project Committee, and Pure and Applied Chemistry Editorial Advisory Board. Each committee is made up of members of different National Adhering Organizations from different countries.
The steering committee hierarchy for IUPAC is as follows:[18]
| Committee name (abbreviation) | Responsibilities | |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau |
| |
| Physical and Biophysical Chemistry Division (Division I) |
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| Inorganic Chemistry Division (Division II) |
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| Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry Division (Division III) |
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| Polymer Division (Division IV) |
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| Analytical Chemistry Division (Division V) |
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| Chemistry and the Environment Division (Division VI) |
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| Chemistry and Human Health Division (Division VII) |
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| Chemical Nomenclature and Structure Representation Division (Division VIII) |
| |
| CHEMRAWN Committee (Chem Research Applied to World Needs) |
| |
| Committee on Chemistry Education (CCE) |
| |
| Committee on Chemistry and Industry (COCI) |
| |
| Committee on Ethics, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (CEDEI) |
| |
| Committee on Publications and Cheminformatics Data Standards (CPCDS) |
| |
| Evaluation Committee (EvC) |
| |
| Executive Committee (EC) |
Current officers of the Executive Committee:
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| Finance Committee (FC) |
| |
| Interdivisional Committee on Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development (ICGCSD) |
| |
| Interdivisional Committee on Terminology (ICTNS) |
| |
| Project Committee (PC) |
| |
| Pure and Applied Chemistry Editorial Advisory Board (PAC-EAB) |
|
See also: Preferred IUPAC name. Scientists framed a systematic method for naming organic compounds based on their structures. Hence, the naming rules were formulated by IUPAC.[27]
IUPAC establishes rules for harmonized spelling of some chemicals to reduce variation among different local English-language variants. For example, they recommend "aluminium" rather than "aluminum", "sulfur" rather than "sulphur", and "caesium" rather than "cesium".
See main article: IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry. IUPAC organic nomenclature has three basic parts: the substituents, carbon chain length, and chemical affix. The substituents are any functional groups attached to the main carbon chain. The main carbon chain is the longest possible continuous chain. The chemical affix denotes what type of molecule it is. For example, the ending ane denotes a single bonded carbon chain, as in "hexane" .[28]
Another example of IUPAC organic nomenclature is cyclohexanol:
See main article: IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry. Basic IUPAC inorganic nomenclature has two main parts: the cation and the anion. The cation is the name for the positively charged ion and the anion is the name for the negatively charged ion.
An example of IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry is potassium chlorate (KClO3):
IUPAC also has a system for giving codes to identify amino acids and nucleotide bases. IUPAC needed a coding system that represented long sequences of amino acids. This would allow for these sequences to be compared to try to find homologies.[30] These codes can consist of either a one-letter code or a three-letter code.
These codes make it easier and shorter to write down the amino acid sequences that make up proteins. The nucleotide bases are made up of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (cytosine and thymine or uracil). These nucleotide bases make up DNA and RNA. These nucleotide base codes make the genome of an organism much smaller and easier to read.[31]
| Nucleic acid code | Meaning | Reasoning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | A | Adenine | |
| C | C | Cytosine | |
| G | G | Guanine | |
| T | T | Thymine | |
| U | U | Uracil | |
| R | A or G | Purine | |
| Y | C, T or U | Pyrimidines | |
| K | G, T or U | Bases that are ketones | |
| M | A or C | Bases with amino groups | |
| S | C or G | Strong interaction | |
| W | A, T, or U | Weak interaction | |
| B | Not A (i.e. C, G, T, or U) | B comes after A | |
| D | Not C (i.e. A, G, T, or U) | D comes after C | |
| H | Not G (i.e., A, C, T, or U) | H comes after G | |
| V | Neither T nor U (i.e. A, C, or G) | V comes after U | |
| N | A C G T U | Nucleic acid | |
| X | Masked | ||
| - | Gap of indeterminate length |
The codes for amino acids (24 amino acids and three special codes) are:
| Amino acid code | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alanine | |
| B | Aspartic acid or asparagine | |
| C | Cysteine | |
| D | Aspartic acid | |
| E | Glutamic acid | |
| F | Phenylalanine | |
| G | Glycine | |
| H | Histidine | |
| I | Isoleucine | |
| K | Lysine | |
| L | Leucine | |
| M | Methionine | |
| N | Asparagine | |
| O | Pyrrolysine | |
| P | Proline | |
| Q | Glutamine | |
| R | Arginine | |
| S | Serine | |
| T | Threonine | |
| U | Selenocysteine | |
| V | Valine | |
| W | Tryptophan | |
| Y | Tyrosine | |
| Z | Glutamic acid or glutamine | |
| J | Leucine or isoleucine | |
| X | Any | |
| Translation stop | ||
| - | Gap of indeterminate length |
| Book name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Principles and Practices of Method Validation | Principles and Practices of Method Validation is a book entailing methods of validating and analyzing many analytes taken from a single aliquot.[32] Also, this book goes over techniques for analyzing many samples at once. Some methods discussed include chromatographic methods, estimation of effects, matrix-induced effects, and the effect of an equipment setup on an experiment. | |
| Fundamental Toxicology | Fundamental Toxicology is a textbook that proposes a curriculum for toxicology courses.[33] Fundamental Toxicology is based on the book Fundamental Toxicology for Chemists.[34] Fundamental Toxicology is enhanced through many revisions and updates. New information added in the revisions includes: risk assessment and management; reproductive toxicology; behavioral toxicology; and ecotoxicology. This book is relatively well received as being useful for reviewing chemical toxicology. | |
| Macromolecular Symposia | Macromolecular Symposia is a journal that publishes fourteen issues a year. This journal includes contributions to the macromolecular chemistry and physics field. The meetings of IUPAC are included in this journal along with the European Polymer Federation, the American Chemical Society, and the Society of Polymer Science in Japan.[35] |
The Experimental Thermodynamics books series covers many topics in the fields of thermodynamics.
| Book | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement of the Transport Properties of Fluids | Measurement of the Transport Properties of Fluids is a book that is published by Blackwell Science. The topics that are included in this book are low and high-temperature measurements, secondary coefficients, diffusion coefficients, light scattering, transient methods for thermal conductivity, methods for thermal conductivity, falling-body viscometers, and vibrating viscometers.[36] | |
| Solution Calorimetry | Solution Calorimetry is a book that gives background information on thermal analysis and calorimetry. Thermoanalytical and calorimetric techniques along with thermodynamic and kinetic properties are also discussed. Later volumes of this book discuss the applications and principles of these thermodynamic and kinetic methods.[37] | |
| Equations of State for Fluids and Fluid Mixtures Part I | Equations of State for Fluids and Fluid Mixtures Part I is a book that gives up to date equations of state for fluids and fluid mixtures. This book covers all ways to develop equations of state. It gives the strengths and weaknesses of each equation. Some equations discussed include: virial equation of state cubic equations; generalized Van der Waals equations; integral equations; perturbation theory; and stating and mixing rules. Other things that Equations of State for Fluids and Fluid Mixtures Part I goes over are: associating fluids, polymer systems, polydisperse fluids, self-assembled systems, ionic fluids, and fluids near their critical points.[38] | |
| Measurement of the Thermodynamic Properties of Single Phases | Measurement of the Thermodynamic Properties of Single Phases is a book that gives an overview of techniques for measuring the thermodynamic quantities of single phases. It also goes into experimental techniques to test many different thermodynamic states precisely and accurately. Measurement of the Thermodynamic Properties of Single Phases was written for people interested in measuring thermodynamic properties.[39] | |
| Measurement of the Thermodynamic Properties of Multiple Phases | Measurement of the Thermodynamic Properties of Multiple Phases is a book that includes multiple techniques that are used to study multiple phases of pure component systems. Also included in this book are the measurement techniques to obtain activity coefficients, interfacial tension, and critical parameters. This book was written for researchers and graduate students as a reference source.[40] |
| Book name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Particles | Atmospheric Particles is a book that delves into aerosol science. This book is aimed as a reference for graduate students and atmospheric researchers. Atmospheric Particles goes into depth on the properties of aerosols in the atmosphere and their effect. Topics covered in this book are: acid rain; heavy metal pollution; global warming; and photochemical smog. Atmospheric Particles also covers techniques to analyze the atmosphere and ways to take atmospheric samples.[41] | |
| Environmental Colloids and Particles: Behaviour, Separation and Characterisation | Environmental Colloids and Particles: Behaviour, Separation and Characterisation is a book that discusses environmental colloids and current information available on them. This book focuses on environmental colloids and particles in aquatic systems and soils. It also goes over techniques such as techniques for sampling environmental colloids, size fractionation, and how to characterize colloids and particles. Environmental Colloids and Particles: Behaviour, Separation and Characterisation also delves into how these colloids and particles interact.[42] | |
| Biophysical Chemistry of Fractal Structures and Processes in Environmental Systems | Biophysical Chemistry of Fractal Structures and Processes in Environmental Systems is meant to give an overview of a technique based on fractal geometry and the processes of environmental systems. This book gives ideas on how to use fractal geometry to compare and contrast different ecosystems. It also gives an overview of the knowledge needed to solve environmental problems. Finally, Biophysical Chemistry of Fractal Structures and Processes in Environmental Systems shows how to use the fractal approach to understand the reactivity of flocs, sediments, soils, microorganisms, and humic substances.[43] | |
| Interactions Between Soil Particles and Microorganisms: Impact on the Terrestrial Ecosystem | Interactions Between Soil Particles and Microorganisms: Impact on the Terrestrial Ecosystem is meant to be read by chemists and biologists that study environmental systems. Also, this book should be used as a reference for earth scientists, environmental geologists, environmental engineers, and professionals in microbiology and ecology. Interactions Between Soil Particles and Microorganisms: Impact on the Terrestrial Ecosystem is about how minerals, microorganisms, and organic components work together to affect terrestrial systems. This book identifies that there are many different techniques and theories about minerals, microorganisms, and organic components individually, but they are not often associated with each other. It further goes on to discuss how these components of soil work together to affect terrestrial life. Interactions Between Soil Particles and Microorganisms: Impact on the Terrestrial Ecosystem gives techniques to analyze minerals, microorganisms, and organic components together. This book also has a large section positing why environmental scientists working in the specific fields of minerals, microorganisms, and organic components of soil should work together and how they should do so.[44] | |
| The Biogeochemistry of Iron in Seawater | The Biogeochemistry of Iron in Seawater is a book that describes how low concentrations of iron in Antarctica and the Pacific Ocean are a result of reduced chlorophyll for phytoplankton production.[45] It does this by reviewing information from research in the 1990s. This book goes into depth about: chemical speciation; analytical techniques; transformation of iron; how iron limits the development of high nutrient low chlorophyll areas in the Pacific Ocean.[46] | |
| In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems: Chemical Analysis and Speciation | In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems: Chemical Analysis and Speciation is a book that discusses techniques and devices to monitor aquatic systems and how new devices and techniques can be developed. This book emphasizes the future use of micro-analytical monitoring techniques and microtechnology. In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems: Chemical Analysis and Speciation is aimed at researchers and laboratories that analyze aquatic systems such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.[47] | |
| Structure and Surface Reactions of Soil Particles | Structure and Surface Reactions of Soil Particles is a book about soil structures and the molecular processes that occur in soil. Structure and Surface Reactions of Soil Particles is aimed at any researcher researching soil or in the field of anthropology. It goes into depth on topics such as: fractal analysis of particle dimensions; computer modeling of the structure; reactivity of humics; applications of atomic force microscopy; and advanced instrumentation for analysis of soil particles.[48] | |
| Metal Speciation and Bioavailability in Aquatic Systems, Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems Vol. 3 | Metal Speciation and Bioavailability in Aquatic Systems, Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems Vol. 3 is a book about the effect of trace metals on aquatic life.[49] This book is considered a specialty book for researchers interested in observing the effect of trace metals in the water supply. This book includes techniques to assess how bioassays can be used to evaluate how an organism is affected by trace metals. Also, Metal Speciation and Bioavailability in Aquatic Systems, Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems Vol. 3 looks at the limitations of the use of bioassays to observe the effects of trace metals on organisms. | |
| Physicochemical Kinetics and Transport at Biointerfaces | Physicochemical Kinetics and Transport at Biointerfaces is a book created to aid environmental scientists in fieldwork. The book gives an overview of chemical mechanisms, transport, kinetics, and interactions that occur in environmental systems. Physicochemical Kinetics and Transport at Biointerfaces continues from where Metal Speciation and Bioavailability in Aquatic Systems leaves off.[50] |
See main article: IUPAC book. IUPAC color code their books in order to make each publication distinguishable.
| Title | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Compendium of Analytical Nomenclature | One extensive book on almost all nomenclature written (IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry and IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry) by IUPAC committee is the Compendium of Analytical Nomenclature (the "Orange Book"; 1st edition 1978).[51] This book was revised in 1987. The second edition has many revisions that come from reports on nomenclature between 1976 and 1984.[52] In 1992, the second edition went through many different revisions, which led to the third edition. | |
| Pure and Applied Chemistry (journal) | Pure and Applied Chemistry is the official monthly journal of IUPAC. This journal debuted in 1960. The goal statement for Pure and Applied Chemistry is to "publish highly topical and credible works at the forefront of all aspects of pure and applied chemistry."[53] The journal itself is available by subscription, but older issues are available in the archive on IUPAC's website. Pure and Applied Chemistry was created as a central way to publish IUPAC endorsed articles.[54] Before its creation, IUPAC did not have a quick, official way to distribute new chemistry information. Its creation was first suggested at the Paris IUPAC Meeting of 1957. During this meeting the commercial publisher of the journal was discussed and decided on. In 1959, the IUPAC Pure and Applied Chemistry Editorial Advisory Board was created and put in charge of the journal. The idea of one journal being a definitive place for a vast amount of chemistry was difficult for the committee to grasp at first. However, it was decided that the journal would reprint old journal editions to keep all chemistry knowledge available. | |
| Compendium of Chemical Terminology | The Compendium of Chemical Terminology, also known as the "Gold Book", was originally worked on by Victor Gold. This book is a collection of names and terms already discussed in Pure and Applied Chemistry.[55] The Compendium of Chemical Terminology was first published in 1987. The first edition of this book contains no original material, but is meant to be a compilation of other IUPAC works. The second edition of this book was published in 1997. This book made large changes to the first edition of the Compendium of Chemical Terminology. These changes included updated material and an expansion of the book to include over seven thousand terms. The second edition was the topic of an IUPAC XML project. This project made an XML version of the book that includes over seven thousand terms. The XML version of the book includes an open editing policy, which allows users to add excerpts of the written version. | |
| IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry (online publication) | IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry, also known as the "Blue Book", is a website published by the Advanced Chemistry Department Incorporated with the permission of IUPAC. This site is a compilation of the books A Guide to IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Compounds and Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry.[56] |
IUPAC and UNESCO were the lead organizations coordinating events for the International Year of Chemistry, which took place in 2011.[57] [58] The International Year of Chemistry was originally proposed by IUPAC at the general assembly in Turin, Italy.[59] This motion was adopted by UNESCO at a meeting in 2008. The main objectives of the International Year of Chemistry were to increase public appreciation of chemistry and gain more interest in the world of chemistry. This event is also being held to encourage young people to get involved and contribute to chemistry. A further reason for this event being held is to honour how chemistry has made improvements to everyone's way of life.
IUPAC Presidents are elected by the IUPAC Council during the General Assembly. Below is the list of IUPAC Presidents since its inception in 1919.[60]
| Term | President | Nationality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920–1922 | Charles Moureu | ||
| 1923–1925 | William Jackson Pope | ||
| 1926–1928 | Ernst Julius Cohen | ||
| 1928–1934 | Einar Biilman | ||
| 1934–1938 | N. Paravano | ||
| 1938–1947 | Marston Taylor Bogert | ||
| 1947–1951 | Hugo Rudolph Kruyt | ||
| 1951–1955 | Arne Tiselius | ||
| 1955–1959 | Arthur Stoll | ||
| 1959–1963 | William Albert Noyes Jr. | ||
| 1963–1965 | Lord Todd | ||
| 1965–1967 | Wilhelm Klemm | ||
| 1967–1969 | V.N. Kondratiev | ||
| 1969–1971 | Albert Lloyd George Rees | ||
| 1971–1973 | Jacques Bénard | ||
| 1973–1975 | Sir Harold Thompson | ||
| 1975–1977 | Robert W. Cairns | ||
| 1977–1979 | Georges Smets | ||
| 1979–1981 | Heinrich Zollinger | ||
| 1981–1983 | Saburo Nagakura | ||
| 1983–1985 | William G. Schneider | ||
| 1987–1989 | Valentin A. Koptyug | ||
| 1989–1991 | Yves P. Jeannin | ||
| 1991–1993 | Allen J. Bard | ||
| 1993–1995 | Kiril I. Zamaraev | ||
| 1996–1997 | Albert E. Fischli | ||
| 1998–1999 | Joshua Jortner | ||
| 2000–2001 | Alan Hayes | ||
| 2002–2003 | Pieter Streicher Steyn | ||
| 2004–2005 | Leiv Kristen Sydnes | ||
| 2006–2007 | Bryan Henry | ||
| 2008–2009 | Jung-Il Jin | ||
| 2010–2011 | Nicole J. Moreau | ||
| 2012–2013 | Kazuyuki Tatsumi | ||
| 2014–2015 | Mark Cesa | ||
| 2016–2017 | Natalia Tarasova | ||
| 2018–2019 | Zhou Qifeng | ||
| 2020–2021 | Christopher M.A. Brett | ||
| 2022–2023 | Javier García-Martínez | ||
| 2024-2025 | Ehud Keinan |