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."

anesthesiologylimnology
bacteriologymeteorology
biologymethodology
cardiologymorphology
chronologynephrology
cytologyneurology
dermatologyoncology
ecologyophthalmology
endocrinologypathology
enzymologypetrology
epidemiologypharmacology
etiologyphysiology
gastroenterologyradiology
geologyrheology
gynecologysedimentology
hematologyserology
histologytechnology
homologyteratology
hydrologytopology
immunologyvirology

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.":

angiographymetallography
bibliographymicrography
biographyoceanography
cardiographypetrography
cholecystographyphotography
chromatographyplanography
crystallographypolarography
derivatographyradiography
electroencephalographyreprography
electrographyspectrography
fractographythermography
fragmentographytomography
geographytopography
holographyxerography
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)cond. (conductivity)mech. [mechanic(al)(ly)]
electroanal.electrocond.biomech.
immunoanal.magnetocond.electromech.
microanal.photocond.micromech.
radioanal.semicond.photomech.
thermoanal.supercond.physicomech.
at. [atomic(al)(ly)]thermocond.thermomech.
diat.crystn. (crystallization)mol. (molecule, molecular)
interat.cocrystn.bimol.
monoat.electrocrystn.intermol.
polyat.recrystn.intramol.
tetraat.decompn. (decomposition)macromol.
triat.photodecompn.monomol.
chem. [chemical(ly), chemistry]degrdn. (degradation)supermol.
agrochem.biodegrdn.supramol.
biochem.photodegrdn.turbomol.
cytochem.thermodegrdn.unimol.
electrochem.detn. (determination)org. [organic(ally)]
geochem.immunodetn.bioinorg.
histochem.microdetn.bioorg.
immunochem.dissocn. (dissociation)chloroorg.
neurochem.photodissocn.electroorg.
petrochem.predissocn.fluoroorg.
photochem.elec. [electric(al)(ly)]inorg.
physicochem.acoustoelec.metalloorg.
radiochem.bioelec.microorg.
spectrochem.dielec.oxidn. (oxidation)
thermochem.ferroelec.autoxidn.
clin. [clinic(al)(ly)]isoelec.biooxidn.
preclin.paraelec.cooxidn.
Subclin.photodielec.deoxidn.
Hb (hemoglobin)photoelec.electrooxidn.
cargonylHbpiezoelec.epoxidn.
carboxyHbpyroelec.peroxidn.
deoxyHbthermoelec.photooxidn.
ferriHbequil. (equilibrium)reoxidn.
metHbdisequil.thermooxidn.
oxyHbnonequil.pptn. (precipitation)
sulfHbpreequil.copptn.
irradn. (irradiation)extn. (extraction)immunopptn.
postirradn.coextn.soly. (solubility)
preirradn.electroextn.hydrosoly.
sym. [symmetry, symmetric(al)(ly)]reextn.insoly.
asym.liposoly.
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 CONCNL2
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.

ABSOLUTEDILUTEPHENYL
ABSTRACTDILUTEDPHYSICAL
ADDITIONDILUTINGPHYSICALLY
ADDITIONALDILUTIONPOLYMERIZATION
ADDITIONALLYDIMETHYLFORMAMIDEPOLYMERIZED
ADRENOCORTICOTROPINDISSOCIATEPOLYMERIZING
ALCOHOLDISSOCIATEDPOSITIVE
ALCOHOLICDISSOCIATINGPOSITIVELY
ALIPHATICDISSOCIATIONPOWDERED
ALKALINEDISTILLATIONPRECIPITATE
ALKALINITYDISTILLEDPRECIPITATED
DECOMPOSINGDISTILLINGPRECIPITATING
DECOMPOSITIONDOSEPRECIPITATION
DEGRADATIONDEOXYRIBONUCLEASEPREPARATION
DERIVATIVEDETERMINATIONPREPARE
DETERMINEDETERMINEDPREPARED
DETERMINEDDETERMININGPREPARING
DETERMININGDIAMETERPRODUCTION
FLAVIN ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDEINHIBITORYPROPYL
FLAVIN MONONUCLEOTIDELETHAL DOSEPURIFICATION
LUTEINIZING HORMONENICOTINAMIDE MONONUCLEOTIDERIBONUCLEIC ACID
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCENUCLEAR QUADRUPOLE RESONANCESCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ORGANICOXIDATIONUV 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 table_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

SymbolCAS RepresentationDescription
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

SymbolCAS RepresentationDescription
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