CAS standard abbreviations and acronyms

Introduction

In CAS databases, certain abbreviations and acronyms are automatically generated for terms in the abstract text, the keyword phrases, and the text modifying phrases for index entries. Most of these abbreviations have been used prior to 1982. Users  need to know these standard abbreviations and acronyms to be able to use them in search profiles and identify them in text.

In this document, automatically generated abbreviations and acronyms in CAS publications and services are arranged in two lists. To guide users to abbreviations they need to include in their search profiles, Listing A is arranged in the alphabetical order of the full terms which are abbreviated. Do not use periods when searching CAS abbreviations or acronyms online. To provide explanation of abbreviations encountered in text, Listing B is arranged in the alphabetical order of abbreviations and acronyms.

Examples and Lists included on this web page:

In addition to the terms specifically listed as standard abbreviations and acronyms, abbreviations are automatically generated for the following types of words:

  1. Words formed by adding prefixes to terms normally abbreviated may also be abbreviated, e.g., "microchem." for "microchemical." In Listing A, words indicated by # on the left are those which, if prefixed, are generally abbreviated. (See, Abbreviations for some common prefixed terms)
  2. Words ending in "-ology" or "-ologic(al)(ly)" are abbreviated "-ol.," e.g., "geol." for "geology." (See examples)
  3. Words ending in "-ography" or "-ographic(al)(ly)" are abbreviated "-og.," E.g., "chromatog." For "chromatographic." (See examples)
  4. Plurals of noun abbreviations are formed by adding "s" to the singular abbreviation, e.g., "derivs." For "derivatives." Two exceptions are cases when a single abbreviation is designated to show both the singular and plural forms (e.g., "equil." For "equilibrium(s)" and words marked on the list with an asterisk (*) whose plurals are not abbreviated.
  5. Verb forms that require "s" are abbreviated by adding "s" to the listed abbreviation, e.g., "Compd. decomps. on heating" for "Compound decomposes on heating."

Standard abbreviations and acronyms are not automatically generated for terms appearing in titles. However, in titles abbreviations used by the author may appear.

In addition to the standard, automatically generated abbreviations and acronyms, other acronyms, atomic symbols (e.g., Cl, Sb), and molecular formulas (e.g., NaCl) may also be used in CAS publications and services.

Examples of some terms ending in "-ology" that are abbreviated "-ol."

    anesthesiology                       limnology 
    bacteriology                         meteorology 
    biology                              methodology 
    cardiology                           morphology 
    chronology                           nephrology 
    cytology                             neurology 
    dermatology                          oncology 
    ecology                              ophthalmology 
    endocrinology                        pathology 
    enzymology                           petrology 
    epidemiology                         pharmacology 
    etiology                             physiology 
    gastroenterology                     radiology 
    geology                              rheology 
    gynecology                           sedimentology 
    hematology                           serology 
    histology                            technology 
    homology                             teratology 
    hydrology                            topology 
    immunology                           virology

Abbreviation "-ol." is also applied to the adjective form, e.g., "pharmacologic(al)," the adverb form, e.g., "pharmacologically" and prefixed forms, e.g., "neuropharmacology" of terms ending in "-ology."

 

Examples of some terms ending in "-ography" that are abbreviated "-og.":

angiography            metallography 
 bibliography           micrography 
 biography              oceanography 
 cardiography           petrography 
 cholecystography       photography 
 chromatography         planography 
 crystallography        polarography 
 derivatography         radiography 
 electroencephalography reprography 
 electrography          spectrography 
 fractography           thermography 
 fragmentography        tomography 
 geography              topography 
 holography             xerography 
 lithography 

Abbreviation "og." is also applied to the adjective form, e.g., "geographic(al)," the adverb form, e.g., "geographically," and prefixed forms, e.g., "paleogeography" of terms ending in "-ography."

 

Abbreviations for some common prefixed terms *

anal. (analysis)
electroanal.
immunoanal.
microanal.
radioanal.
thermoanal.
at. [atomic(al)(ly)]
diat.
interat.
monoat.
polyat.
tetraat.
triat.
chem. [chemical(ly), chemistry]
agrochem.
biochem.
cytochem.
electrochem.
geochem.
histochem.
immunochem.
neurochem.
petrochem.
photochem.
physicochem.
radiochem.
spectrochem.
thermochem.
clin. [clinic(al)(ly)]
preclin.
Subclin.
cond. (conductivity)
electrocond.
magnetocond.
photocond.
semicond.
supercond.
thermocond.
crystn. (crystallization)
cocrystn.
electrocrystn.
recrystn.
decompn. (decomposition)
photodecompn.
degrdn. (degradation)
biodegrdn.
photodegrdn.
thermodegrdn.
detn. (determination)
immunodetn.
microdetn.
dissocn. (dissociation)
photodissocn.
predissocn.
elec. [electric(al)(ly)]
acoustoelec.
bioelec.
dielec.
ferroelec.
isoelec.
paraelec.
photodielec.
photoelec.
piezoelec.
pyroelec.
thermoelec.
equil. (equilibrium)
disequil.
nonequil.
preequil.
extn. (extraction)
coextn.
electroextn.
reextn.  Hb (hemoglobin)
cargonylHb
carboxyHb
deoxyHb
ferriHb
metHb
oxyHb
sulfHb
irradn. (irradiation)
postirradn.
preirradn.
mech. [mechanic(al)(ly)]
biomech.
electromech.
micromech.
photomech.
physicomech.
thermomech.
mol. (molecule, molecular)
bimol.
intermol.
intramol.
macromol.
monomol.
supermol.
supramol.
turbomol.
unimol.
org. [organic(ally)]
bioinorg.
bioorg.
chloroorg.
electroorg.
fluoroorg.
inorg.
metalloorg.
microorg.
oxidn. (oxidation)
autoxidn.
biooxidn. 
cooxidn.
deoxidn.
electrooxidn.
epoxidn.
peroxidn.
photooxidn.
reoxidn.
thermooxidn.
pptn. (precipitation)
copptn.
immunopptn.
soly. (solubility)
hydrosoly.
insoly.
liposoly.
sym. [symmetry, symmetric(al)(ly)]
asym.
unsym.

* See "Standard Abbreviations and Acronyms," Listing A for a complete list of terms which, if prefixed, are generally abbreviated.

Automatic retrieval of CAS abbreviations on STN

In CAS bibliographic files on STN, e.g., CAplus or CA, you can retrieve CAS abbreviations automatically. Simply enter the commands SET ABB ON and SET PLURAL ON at an arrow prompt.

When you SET ABB ON, abbreviations are generated for all terms searched in the Basic Index, or in the specific fields that comprise the Basic Index. A separate posting line appears if any occurrences of an abbreviation are found. When you SET PLURAL ON, you also automatically retrieve plural abbreviations.

The default for SET ABB is OFF. To include abbreviations for all SEARCH and QUERY commands in your session, enter SET ABB ON at an arrow prompt. To retain the ON setting beyond the current session, enter SET ABB ON PERM.

Not all CAS standard abbreviations are available with SET ABB. CAS abbreviations for most units and multiword terms have been removed to keep false drops and irrelevant retrievals to a minimum. To see a list of terms for which abbreviations will be added, enter HELP ABB at an arrow prompt (=>) in the file. For more information on this SET command, enter HELP SET ABB at an arrow prompt.

 

SET ABB ON to retrieve CAS abbreviations

=> SET ABB ON PERM SET COMMAND COMPLETED
=> SET PLURAL ON PERM SET COMMAND COMPLETED
=> S PRECIPITAT?   35280 PRECIPITAT?
  75559 PPT
  30694 PPTS
  98131 PPT
   (PPT OR PPTS)   59648 PPTD
      2 PPTDS
  59648 PPTD
   (PPTD OR PPTDS)
  13101 PPTG
 131576 PPTN    1980 PPTNS
 132847 PPTN
   (PPTN OR PPTNS)
L1  258048 PRECIPITAT? PRECIPITAT? OR PPT OR PPTD OR PPTG OR PPTN)

Online help message

=> FILE CAPLUS => HELP ABB When you SET ABBREVIATONS ON, abbreviations are automatically generated for the terms in the following list when the term or a truncated stem that would encompass a listed term is searched  in the Basic Index, or in the specific fields that comprise the Basic Index.

Examples:
=> SET ABB ON SET COMMAND COMPLETED
=> S CONCENTRAT?
149313 CONCENTRAT?
50824 CONC
115142 CONCD
9541 CONCG
1035004 CONCN
L2 1221846 CONCENTRAT? (CONCENTRAT? OR CONC OR CONCD OR CONCG OR CONCN)
For more information on this SET option, enter HELP SET ABB  at an arrow prompt (=>). For a list of fields in the Basic Index, enter HELP SFIELDS at an arrow prompt in this file.  
ABSOLUTE             DILUTED               PRECIPITATE  
ABSTRACT             DILUTING              PRECIPITATED  
ADDITION             DILUTION              PRECIPITATING  
ADDITIONAL           DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE     PRECIPITATION  
ADDITIONALLY         DISSOCIATE            PREPARATION  
ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN 
DISSOCIATED           PREPARE  
ALCOHOL              DISSOCIATING          PREPARED  
ALCOHOLIC            DISSOCIATION          PREPARING  
ALIPHATIC            DISTILLATION          PRODUCTION  
ALKALINE             DISTILLED             PROPYL  
ALKALINITY           DISTILLING            PURIFICATION            DECOMPOSING          ORGANIC               FLAVIN ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE  
DECOMPOSITION        OXIDATION             FLAVIN MONONUCLEOTIDE  
DEGRADATION          PHENYL                INHIBITORY 
DOSE  
DEOXYRIBONUCLEASE   
PHYSICAL              LETHAL DOSE  
DERIVATIVE           PHYSICALLY            LUTEINIZING HORMONE  
DETERMINATION        POLYMERIZATION        NICOTINAMIDE MONONUCLEOTIDE  
DETERMINE            POLYMERIZED           NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE  
DETERMINED           POLYMERIZING          NUCLEAR QUADRUPOLE RESONANCE  
DETERMINING          POSITIVE              RIBONUCLEIC ACID  
DIAMETER             POSITIVELY            SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY  
DILUTE               POWDERED              UV PHOTOELECTRON

Listing A

LIST A
 
 
 
Full Term
Abbreviation
 
 
absolute
abs.
abstract
abstr.
#addition
addn.
additional(ly)
addnl.
adenosine 5'-diphosphate
ADP
adenosine 5'-monophosphate
AMP
adenosine 5'-triphosphate
ATP
adenosine triphosphatase
ATPase
adrenocorticotropin
ACTH
#alcohol(ic)
alc.
alkaline
alk.
alkalinity
alky.
#aliphatic
aliph.
all valence electron
AVE
alternating current
a.c.
ampere (unit)
A
amount
amt.
#analysis*, #analytical(ly)
anal.
anhydrous
anhyd.
angstrom (unit)
**
apparatus
app.
approximate(ly)
approx.
approximation
approxn.
#aqueous
aq.
#aromatic
arom.
#association
assocn.
associate
assoc.
associated
assocd.
associating
assocg.
asymmetric(al)(ly)
asym.
atmosphere (unit)
atm
atmospheric
atm.
#atomic
at.
atomic mass unit
amu
atomic orbital
AO
augmented plane wave
APW
average
av.
bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer
BCS
barrel (unit)
bbl
becquerel (unit)
Bq
billion electron volts (unit)
GeV
biochemical oxygen demand
BOD
body centered cubic
bcc.
Bohr magneton (unit)
mB**
boiling point
b.p.
British thermal unit
Btu
bushel (unit)
bu
butyl (normal)
Bu
#calculate
calc.
#calculated
calcd.
#calculating
calcg.
#calculation
calcn.
calorie (unit)
cal
carboxymethyl cellulose
CM-cellulose
chemical oxygen demand
COD
#chemical(ly), #chemistry
chem.
chemically pure
CP
circular dichroism
CD
clinical(ly)
clin.
coefficient
coeff.
#coenzyme A
CoA
coherent potential approximation
CPA
commercial(ly)
com.
complete neglect of differential overlap
CNDO
composition
compn.
compound
compd.
concanavalin A
ConA
#concentrate
conc.
#concentrated
concd.
#concentrating
concg.
#concentration
concn.
#conductivity*
cond.
configuration interaction
CI
constant
const.
containing
contg.
corrected
cor.
coulomb (unit)
C
coupled electron pair approximation
CEPA
#critical
crit.
#crystalline
cryst.
crystallisation
crystn
crystallised
crystd
crystallising
crystg
#crystallization
crystn.
#crystallized
crystd.
#crystallizing
crystg.
cubic feet per minute (unit)
cfm
curie (unit)
Ci
current density
c.d.
cyclic AMP
cAMP
cyclic GMP
cGMP
cytidine 5'-diphosphate
CDP
cytidine 5'-monophosphate
CMP
cytidine 5'-triphosphate
CTP
debye unit
D
decompose
decomp.
decomposed
decompd.
decomposing
decompg.
#decomposition
decompn.
#degradation
degrdn.
degree Celsius (centigrade) (unit)
C**
degree Fahrenheit (unit)
F**
degree of polymerization
d.p.
density
d.
deoxyribonuclease
DNase
deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
derivative
deriv.
determination
detn.
determine
det.
#determined
detd.
determining
detg.
diameter
diam.
diatomics-in-molecules
DIM
diethylaminoethyl cellulose
DEAE-cellulose
differential thermal analysis
DTA
dilute
dil.
diluted
dild.
diluting
dilg.
dilution
diln.
dimethyl sulfoxide
DMSO
dimethylformamide
DMF
direct current
d.c.
disintegrations per minute (unit)
dpm
dissociate
dissoc.
dissociated
dissocd.
dissociating
dissocg.
#dissociation
dissocn.
#distillation
distn.
#distilled
distd.
#distilling
distg.
effective dose
ED
#electric(al)(ly)
elec.
electrocardiogram
ECG
electroencephalogram
EEG
electromagnetic unit
emu
electromotive force
emf.
electron spin resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance
ESR
electron volt (unit)
eV
electrostatic unit
esu
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ELISA
#equilibrium(s)
equil.
#equivalent
equiv.
equivalent (unit)
equiv
especially
esp.
estimate
est.
estimated
estd.
estimating
estg.
estimation
estn.
ethyl
Et
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
EDTA
evaporate
evap.
evaporated
evapd.
evaporating
evapg.
evaporation
evapn.
#examination
examn.
#examined
examd.
#examining
examg.
#extraction
extn.
experiment
expt.
experimental(ly)
exptl.
extended Hueckel molecular orbital
EHMO
extract
ext.
extracted
extd.
extracting
extg.
face centered cubic
fcc.
farad
F
fermentation
fermn.
flavin adenine dinucleotide
FAD
flavin mononucleotide
FMN
floating spherical Gaussian orbital
FSGO
follicle-stimulating hormone
FSH
foot (unit)
ft
foot-pound (unit)
ft-lb
freezing point
f.p.
gallon (unit)
gal
gauss (unit)
G
Gaussian-type orbital
GTO
gr. specific gravity
sp.
gram (unit)
g
gravitational constant
g
gray (absorbed radiation dose) (unit)
Gy
guanosine 5'-diphosphate
GDP
guanosine 5'-monophosphate
GMP
guanosine 5'-triphosphate
GTP
hectare (unit)
ha
#hemoglobin
Hb
henry (unit)
H
hertz (cycles/sec) (unit)
Hz
hexagonal close-packed
hcp
highest occupied molecular orbital
HOMO
hour (unit)
h
Hueckel molecular orbital
HMO
hundred weight (unit)
cwt
hydrogenic atoms in molecules
HAM
immunoglobulin
Ig
inch (unit)
in.
independent electron pair approximation
IEPA
infrared
IR
inhibitory dose
"ID"
inosine 5'-diphosphate
IDP
inosine 5'-monophosphate
IMP
inosine 5'-triphosphate
ITP
intermediate neglect of differential overlap
INDO
international unit
IU
interstitial cell-stimulating hormone
ICSH
intramuscular(ly)
i.m.
intraperitoneal(ly)
i.p.
intravenous(ly)
i.v.
#irradiation
irradn.
iterative extended Hueckel molecular orbital
IEHMO
joule (unit)
J
kelvin (unit)
K
laboratory
lab.
lethal dose
LD
linear combination of atomic orbitals
LCAO
linear combination of fragment configuration
LCFC
liquid
liq.
liter (unit)
L
low energy electron diffraction
LEED
lowest unoccupied molecular orbital
LUMO
lumen (unit)
lm
luteinizing hormone
LH
lux (unit)
lx
magnetohydrodynamics
MHD
manufacture
manuf.
manufactured
manufd.
manufacturing
manufg.
mathematical(ly)
math.
maximum
max.
maxwell (unit)
Mx
#mechanical(ly) (not mechanism)
mech.
melanocyte-stimulating hormone
mol.
melting point
MSH
melts at, melting at
m.p.
messenger RNA
m.
metabolism
mRNA
meter (unit)
metab.
methyl (not metal)
m
mile (unit)
Me
miles per hour (unit)
mi
minimum(s)
mph
minute (unit)
min.
miscellaneous
min
#mixture
misc.
modified neglect of diatomic overlap
MNDO
molar (unit)
M
mole (unit)
mol
#molecule, #molecular
mixt.
molecular orbital
MO
molecules-in-molecules
MIM
month (unit)
mo
multiconfigurational self-consistent field
MC-SCF
#negative(ly)
neg.
neglect of diatomic differential overlap
NDDO
neglect of nonbonded differential overlap
NNDO
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
NAD
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
NADP
nicotinamide mononucleotide
NMN
nuclear magnetic resonance
NMR
nuclear quadruple resonance
NQR
number
no.
observed
obsd.
oersted (unit)
Oe
ohm (unit)
O**
olal (unit)
m
optical rotatory dispersion
ORD
#organic
org.
ounce
oz
#oxidation
oxidn.
Pariser-Parr-Pople
PPP
partial neglect of differential overlap
PNDO
parts per billion (unit)
ppb
parts per million (unit)
ppm
pascal (unit)
Pa
perturbational molecular orbital
PMO
phenyl
Ph
#physical(ly)
phys.
pint (unit)
pt
poise (unit)
P
polymerisation
polymn
polymerised
polymd
polymerising
polymg
#polymerization
polymn.
#polymerized
polymd.
#polymerizing
polymg.
#positive(ly)
pos.
potential difference
p.d.
pound (unit)
lb
pounds per square inch (unit)
psi
pounds per square inch absolute (unit)
psia
pounds per square inch gage (unit)
psig
#powdered
powd.
#precipitate
ppt.
#precipitated
pptd.
#precipitating
pptg.
#precipitation
pptn.
preparation
prepn.
prepare
prep.
prepared
prepd.
preparing
prepg.
#production
prodn.
propyl (normal)
Pr
#purification
purifn.
Qualitative(ly)
qual.
#quantitative(ly)
quant.
quart (unit)
qt
random phase approximation
RPA
#reduction
redn.
reference
ref.
reflection high energy electron diffraction
RHEED
reproduction
reprodn.
resolution
resoln.
#respective(ly)
resp.
respiratory quotient
RQ
restricted Hartree-Fock
RHF
revolutions per minute (unit)
rpm
ribonuclease
RNase
ribonucleic acid
RNA
ribosomal RNA
rRNA
roentgen (unit)
R
roentgen equivalent man (unit)
rem
roentgen equivalent physical (unit)
rep
saponification
sapon.
saponified
sapond.
saponifying
sapong.
saturate
sat.
#saturated
satd.
saturated calomel electrode
SCE
saturating
satg.
#saturation
satn.
scanning electron microscopy
SEM
second (unit)
s
self-consistent field
SCF
separate(ly)
sep.
separated
sepd.
separating
sepg.
separation
sepn.
siemens (unit)
S
Slater-type orbital
STO
#solubility*
soly.
#soluble
sol.
#solution
soln.
standard
std.
steradian (unit)
sr
stokes (unit)
St
subcutaneous(ly)
s.c.
#symmetric(al)(ly)
sym.
tablespoon (unit)
tbs
teaspoon (unit)
tsp
#technical(ly)
tech.
temperature
temp.
tesla (unit)
T
tetrahydrofuran
THF
theoretical(ly)
theor.
thermodynamic(s)
thermodn.
thyroid-stimulating hormone
TSH
titration
titrn.
triethylaminoethyl cellulose
TEAE-cellulose
ultraviolet
UV
United States Pharmacopeia
USP
unrestricted Hartree-Fock
UHF
uridine 5'-diphosphate
UDP
uridine 5'-monophosphate
UMP
uridine 5'-triphosphate
UTP
UV photoelectron spectroscopy
UPS
vol. specific volume
sp.
volt (unit)
V
volume
vol.
watt (unit)
W
weber (unit)
Wb
week (unit)
wk
weight
wt.
wt. specific weight
sp.
x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
XPS
yard (unit)
yd
year (unit)
yr
zero differential overlap
ZDO

* Terms whose plurals are not automatically abbreviated by adding "s."

# If prefixed, these words are generally abbreviated. For examples, see the list of "Abbreviations for some common prefixed terms" which precedes Listing A.

** For representation in computer-readable files see "Listing of Characters and Symbols in Computer-Readable Files."

Listing B

A

ampere (unit)

angstrom (unit)

 

abs.

absolute

abstr.

abstract

a.c.

alternating current

ACTH

adrenocorticotropin

addn.

addition

addnl.

additional(ly)

ADP

adenosine 5'-diphosphate

alc.

alcohol(ic)

aliph.

aliphatic

alk.

alkaline

alky.

alkalinity

AMP

adenosine 5'-monophosphate

amt.

amount

amu

atomic mass unit

anal.

analysis, analytical(ly)

anhyd.

anhydrous

AO

atomic orbital

app.

apparatus

approx.

approximate(ly)

approxn.

approximation

APW

augmented plane wave

aq.

aqueous

arom.

aromatic

assoc.

associate

assocd.

associated

assocg.

associating

assocn.

association

asym.

asymmetric(al)(ly)

at.

atomic

atm

atmosphere (unit)

atm.

atmospheric

ATP

adenosine 5'-triphosphate

ATPase

adenosine triphosphatase

av.

average

AVE

all valence electron

bbl

barrel (unit)

bcc.

body centered cubic

BCS

bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer

BOD

biochemical oxygen demand

b.p.

boiling point

Bq

becquerel (unit)

Btu

British thermal unit

Bu

butyl (normal)

bu

bushel (unit)

mB

Bohr magneton (unit)

C

coulomb (unit)

C

degree Celsius (centigrade) (unit)

cal

calorie (unit)

calc.

calculate

calcd.

calculated

calcg.

calculating

calcn.

calculation

cAMP

cyclic AMP

c.d.

current density

CD

circular dichroism

CDP

cytidine 5'-diphosphate

CEPA

coupled electron pair approximation

cfm

cubic feet per minute (unit)

cGMP

cyclic GMP

chem.

chemical(ly), chemistry

CI

configuration interaction

Ci

curie (unit)

clin.

clinical(ly)

CM-cellulose

carboxymethyl cellulose

CMP

cytidine 5'-monophosphate

CNDO

complete neglect of differential overlap

CoA

coenzyme A

COD

chemical oxygen demand

coeff.

coefficient

com.

commercial(ly)

compd.

compound

compn.

composition

ConA

concanavalin A

conc.

concentrate

concd.

concentrated

concg.

concentrating

concn.

concentration

cond.

conductivity

const.

constant

contg.

containing

cor.

corrected

CP

chemically pure

CPA

coherent potential approximation

crit.

critical

cryst.

crystalline

crystd

crystallised

crystg

crystallising

crystn

crystallisation

crystd.

crystallized

crystg.

crystallizing

crystn.

crystallization

CTP

cytidine 5'-triphosphate

cwt

hundred weight (unit)

D

debye unit

d.

density

d.c.

direct current

DEAE-cellulose

diethylaminoethyl cellulose

decomp.

decompose

decompd.

decomposed

decompg.

decomposing

decompn.

decomposition

degrdn.

degradation

deriv.

derivative

det.

determine

detd.

determined

detg.

determining

detn.

determination

diam.

diameter

dil.

dilute

dild.

diluted

dilg.

diluting

diln.

dilution

DIM

diatomics-in-molecules

dissoc.

dissociate

dissocd.

dissociated

dissocg.

dissociating

dissocn.

dissociation

distd.

distilled

distg.

distilling

distn.

distillation

DMF

dimethylformamide

DMSO

dimethyl sulfoxide

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

DNase

deoxyribonuclease

d.p.

degree of polymerization

dpm

disintegrations per minute (unit)

DTA

differential thermal analysis

ECG

electrocardiogram

ED

effective dose

EDTA

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EEG

electroencephalogram

EHMO

extended Hueckel molecular orbital

elec.

electric(al)(ly)

ELISA

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

emf.

electromotive force

emu

electromagnetic unit

equil.

equilibrium

equiv

equivalent (unit)

equiv.

equivalent

esp.

especially

ESR

electron spin resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance

est.

estimate

estd.

estimated

estg.

estimating

estn.

estimation

esu

electrostatic unit

Et

ethyl

eV

electron volt (unit)

evap.

evaporate

evapd.

evaporated

evapg.

evaporating

evapn.

evaporation

examd.

examined

examg.

examining

examn.

examination

expt.

experiment

exptl.

experimental(ly)

ext.

extract

extd.

extracted

extg.

extracting

extn.

extraction

F

farad

F

degree Fahrenheit (unit)

FAD

flavin adenine dinucleotide

fcc.

face centered cubic

fermn.

fermentation

FMN

flavin mononucleotide

f.p.

freezing point

FSGO

floating spherical Gaussian orbital

FSH

follicle-stimulating hormone

ft

foot (unit)

ft-lb

foot-pound (unit)

g

gram (unit)

g

gravitational constant

G

gauss (unit)

gal

gallon (unit)

GDP

guanosine 5'-diphosphate

GeV

billion electron volts (unit)

GMP

guanosine 5'-monophosphate

GTO

Gaussian-type orbital

GTP

guanosine 5'-triphosphate

Gy

gray (absorbed radiation dose) (unit)

h

hour (unit)

H

henry (unit)

ha

hectare (unit)

HAM

hydrogenic atoms in molecules

Hb

hemoglobin

hcp

hexagonal close-packed

HMO

Hueckel molecular orbital

HOMO

highest occupied molecular orbital

Hz

hertz (cycles/sec) (unit)

ICSH

interstitial cell-stimulating hormone

ID

inhibitory dose

IDP

inosine 5'-diphosphate

IEHMO

iterative extended Hueckel molecular orbital

IEPA

independent electron pair approximation

Ig

immunoglobulin

i.m.

intramuscular(ly)

IMP

inosine 5'-monophosphate

in.

inch (unit)

INDO

intermediate neglect of differential overlap

i.p.

intraperitoneal(ly)

IR

infrared

irradn.

irradiation

ITP

inosine 5'-triphosphate

IU

international unit

i.v.

intravenous(ly)

J

joule (unit)

K

kelvin (unit)

L

liter (unit)

lab.

laboratory

lb

pound (unit)

LCAO

linear combination of atomic orbitals

LCFC

linear combination of fragment configuration

LD

lethal dose

LEED

low energy electron diffraction

LH

luteinizing hormone

liq.

liquid

lm

lumen (unit)

LUMO

lowest unoccupied molecular orbital

lx

lux (unit)

m

meter (unit)

m

olal (unit)

M

molar (unit)

m.

melts at, melting at

manuf.

manufacture

manufd.

manufactured

manufg.

manufacturing

math.

mathematical(ly)

max.

maximum

MC-SCF

multiconfigurational self-consistent field

Me

methyl (not metal)

mech.

mechanical(ly) (not mechanism)

metab.

metabolism

MHD

magnetohydrodynamics

mi

mile (unit)

MIM

molecules-in-molecules

min

minute (unit)

min.

minimum(s)

misc.

miscellaneous

mixt.

mixture

MNDO

modified neglect of diatomic overlap

mo

month (unit)

MO

molecular orbital

mol

mole (unit)

mol.

molecule, molecular

m.p.

melting point

mph

miles per hour (unit)

mRNA

messenger RNA

MSH

melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Mx

maxwell (unit)

NAD

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

NADP

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

NDDO

neglect of diatomic differential overlap

neg.

negative(ly)

NMN

nicotinamide mononucleotide

NMR

nuclear magnetic resonance

NNDO

neglect of nonbonded differential overlap

no.

number

NQR

nuclear quadruple resonance

obsd.

observed

Oe

oersted (unit)

O

ohm (unit)

ORD

optical rotatory dispersion

org.

organic

oxidn.

oxidation

oz

ounce

P

poise (unit)

Pa

pascal (unit)

p.d.

potential difference

Ph

phenyl

phys.

physical(ly)

PMO

perturbational molecular orbital

PNDO

partial neglect of differential overlap

polymd

polymerised

polymg

polymerising

polymn

polymerisation

polymd.

polymerized

polymg.

polymerizing

polymn.

polymerization

pos.

positive(ly)

powd.

powdered

ppb

parts per billion (unit)

ppm

parts per million (unit)

PPP

Pariser-Parr-Pople

ppt.

precipitate

pptd.

precipitated

pptg.

precipitating

pptn.

precipitation

Pr

propyl (normal)

prep.

prepare

prepd.

prepared

prepg.

preparing

prepn.

preparation

prodn.

production

psi

pounds per square inch (unit)

psia

pounds per square inch absolute (unit)

psig

pounds per square inch gage (unit)

pt

pint (unit)

purifn.

purification

qt

quart (unit)

qual.

Qualitative(ly)

quant.

quantitative(ly)

R

roentgen (unit)

redn.

reduction

ref.

reference

rem

roentgen equivalent man (unit)

rep

roentgen equivalent physical (unit)

reprodn.

reproduction

resoln.

resolution

resp.

respective(ly)

RHEED

reflection high energy electron diffraction

RHF

restricted Hartree-Fock

RNA

ribonucleic acid

RNase

ribonuclease

RPA

random phase approximation

rRNA

ribosomal RNA

rpm

revolutions per minute (unit)

RQ

respiratory quotient

s

second (unit)

S

siemens (unit)

sapon.

saponification

sapond.

saponified

sapong.

saponifying

sat.

saturate

satd.

saturated

satg.

saturating

satn.

saturation

s.c.

subcutaneous(ly)

SCE

saturated calomel electrode

SCF

self-consistent field

SEM

scanning electron microscopy

sep.

separate(ly)

sepd.

separated

sepg.

separating

sepn.

separation

sol.

soluble

soln.

solution

soly.

solubility

sp.

gr. specific gravity

sp.

vol. specific volume

sp.

wt. specific weight

sr

steradian (unit)

St

stokes (unit)

std.

standard

STO

Slater-type orbital

sym.

symmetric(al)(ly)

T

tesla (unit)

tbs

tablespoon (unit)

TEAE-cellulose

triethylaminoethyl cellulose

tech.

technical(ly)

temp.

temperature

theor.

theoretical(ly)

thermodn.

thermodynamic(s)

THF

tetrahydrofuran

titrn.

titration

TSH

thyroid-stimulating hormone

tsp

teaspoon (unit)

UDP

uridine 5'-diphosphate

UHF

unrestricted Hartree-Fock

UMP

uridine 5'-monophosphate

UPS

UV photoelectron spectroscopy

USP

United States Pharmacopeia

UTP

uridine 5'-triphosphate

UV

ultraviolet

V

volt (unit)

vol.

volume

W

watt (unit)

Wb

weber (unit)

wk

week (unit)

wt.

weight

XPS

x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

yd

yard (unit)

yr

year (unit)

ZDO

zero differential overlap

 

Characters and Symbols in Computer-Readable Files

In computer-readable files all characters of the Roman alphabet and numbers are represented in the same way as in CAS publications. However, no distinctions are made for italic, boldface, or small capital letters. Also, superscripts and subscripts appear on the line.

Special conventions are used to represent some characters and symbols in computer-readable files. These conventions are shown in the following lists. Some of these characters and symbols can be searched in computer-readable files. For search terms, representations without the periods are used.

 

Conventions for Representing Greek Letters in Computer-Readable Files

 

Symbol

CAS Representation

Description

A

.ALPHA.

Alpha

B

.BETA.

Beta

Γ

.GAMMA.

Gamma

Δ

.DELTA.

Delta

E

.EPSILON.

Epsilon

Z

.ZETA.

Zeta

H

.ETA.

Eta

Θ

.THETA.

Theta

I

.IOTA.

Iota

K

.KAPPA.

Kappa

Λ

.LAMBDA.

Lambda

M

.MU.

Mu

N

.NU.

Nu

Ξ

.XI.

Xi

Ο

.OMICRON.

Omicron

Π

.PI.

Pi

P

.RHO.

Rho

Σ

.SIGMA.

Sigma

T

.TAU.

Tau

Y

.UPSILON.

Upsilon

Φ

.PHI.

Phi

X

.CHI.

Chi

Ψ

.PSI.

Psi

Ω

.OMEGA.

Omega

α

.alpha.

Alpha

β

.beta.

Beta

γ

.gamma.

Gamma

δ

.delta.

Delta

.vdelta.

Delta (variant)

ε

.epsilon.

Epsilon

ϵ

.vepsiln.

Epsilon (variant)

ζ

.zeta.

Zeta

η

.eta.

Eta

θ

.theta.

Theta

ϑ

.vtheta.

Theta (variant)

ι

.iota.

Iota

κ

.kappa.

Kappa

𝛞

.vkappa.

Kappa (variant)

λ

.lambda.

Lambda

μ

.mu.

Mu

ν

.nu.

Nu

ξ

.xi.

Xi

ο

.omicron.

Omicron

π

.pi.

Pi

ϖ

.vpi.

Pi (variant)

ρ

.rho.

Rho

σ

.sigma.

Sigma

ς

.vsigma.

Sigma (variant)

τ

.tau.

Tau

υ

.upsilon.

Upsilon

ϕ

.phi.

Phi

φ

.vphi.

Phi (variant)

χ

.chi.

Chi

ψ

.psi.

Psi

ω

.omega.

Omega

 

Conventions for Representing Symbols in Computer-Readable Files

 

Symbol

CAS Representation

Description

Ð

.angle.

Angle

Å

.ANG.

Angstrom Unit

.apprch.

Approaches

.apprxeq.

Approximately Equal

~

.apprx.

Approximates (similar)

§

.bdintg.

Bounded Integral

.box.

Box

.bul.

Bullet (12 pt. center dot)

¢

.cents.

Cent

×

.cntdot.

Center Dot

Ì

.cntnd.

Contained in

É

.cntns.

Contains

©

.copyrgt.

Copyright

Ä

.crosprd.

Cross Product

.dag.

Dagger

-

-

Dash/Minus

°

.degree.

Degree

Ñ

.del.

Del (Nabla)

¸

.div.

Division

.dnreslt.

Does Not Result in

.dblarw.

Double Arrow

.dbldag.

Double Dagger

.dblharw.

Double Half Arrows

.++.

Double Plus

.dblvert.

Double Vertical

¯

.dwnarw.

Down Arrow

.fwdarw.

Forward Arrow

.fwdcarw.

Forward Curved Arrow

.gtoreq.

Greater Than or Equal

.gtorsim.

Greater Than or Similar

.ident.

Identity

.infin.

Infinity

.intg.

Integral

Ç

.intrsec.

Intersection

.ltbbrac.

Left Broken Bracket

£

.ltoreq.

Less Than or Equal

.ltorsim.

Less Than or Similar

 

.lbdabar.

Lambda Bar

Î

.member.

Member of

.-+.

Minus-Plus

.mchgt.

Much Greater Than

.mchlt.

Much Less Than

Ï

.notmbr.

Not a Member of

.noteq.

Not Equal

.sun.

Of Sun

.ovrhdot.

Overhead Dot

.ovrhdbr.

Overhead Double Bar

.permill.

Per Mill

^

.perp.

Perpendicular

h

.plcnst.

Planck’s Constant

±

.+-.

Plus-Minus

£

.pnd.

Pound Sterling

¢

Prime/apostrophe

Õ

.product.

Product

Ò

.RTM.

Registered Trade Mark

.rarw.

Reverse Arrow

.rcarw.

Reverse Curved Arrow

.rscharw.

Reverse Surface Chemistry Arrow

.rtbbrac.

Right Broken Bracket

A

.SCRIPTA.

Script A

.SCRIPTB.

Script B

C

.SCRIPTC.

Script C

D

.SCRIPTD.

Script D

E

.SCRIPTE.

Script E

.SCRIPTF.

Script F

G

.SCRIPTG.

Script G

.SCRIPTH.

Script H

.SCRIPTL.

Script L

P

.SCRIPTP.

Script P

.SCRIPTR.

Script R

S

.SCRIPTS.

Script S

.simeq.

Similar or Equal

.sqroot.

Square Root

.sum.

Sum

.scharw.

Surface Chemistry Arrow

Å

.sym.

Symmetry

«

.tautm.

Tautomer

  .thermod. Thermodynamics

´

.times.

Times

.tplbond.

Triple Bond

È

.union.

Union

.uparw.

Up Arrow

µ

.varies.

Varies

®

.vector.

Vector

¯

.hivin.

Vinculum (high)

_

.lovin.

Vinculum (low)

¥

.yen.

Yen

NOTE: Symbols which modify characters (e.g., the vinculum) precede the character (i.e., A becomes .hivin.A).