IUPAC

To disseminate throughout the world polymer community a short, easily assimilated, guide to the essentials of polymer nomenclature.

Most polymer scientists are aware of the importance of using nomenclature approved by IUPAC. There are simple rules that can be used easily to name most of the polymers cited in the scientific literature. However, as technical and copy editors of polymer journals know, there are common misunderstandings of how these should be applied.

This project will result in the preparation of a concise ca 2-page document that will act as a basic guide to authors publishing in polymer-science journals, and which will be readily accessible within the pages of those journals. Journals and society magazines publishing in polymer science and related sciences will be encouraged to participate in the project in two ways: (1) by incorporating hard copies of the final document in their freely-distributed January issues; and (2) by giving prominence to permanent web links to the document, which in turn will provide reference to the detailed relevant IUPAC documents. The document will not be a summary of all rules; rather it will seek to explain the most commonly applied rules in a manner that will be accessible to scientists, including those with little prior contact with polymer science, with little experience of the use of scientific English, or both.

The guidelines will include:
1)    the important terminology used when considering polymer nomenclature;
2)    a concise explanation of the differences between source-based, structure-based and traditional nomenclature;
3)    locants, seniority considerations, and the use of enclosing marks and italics, etc. …
4)    hyper-links to relevant IUPAC documents.

> project announcement published in Chem. Int. July-Aug 2009

last update 20090722