Identifying specific chemicals can be a complex task, especially when compounds have multiple names or are known by different terms in various languages. To address this challenge, the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) has assigned unique CAS Registry Numbers to over 163 million organic and inorganic compounds. These numbers, typically formatted as xxx-xx-x, serve as a universal identifier for each chemical, much like a social security number. No matter what name a compound is known by—whether it's common, technical, or even slang—it will always have one and only one CAS number. This system simplifies scientific communication and eliminates confusion that often arises from the use of multiple names.
For example, methanol is also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, carbinol, or MeOH, among others. If you're working with methanol, using its CAS number, 67-56-1, ensures clarity across all languages and naming conventions. Additionally, CAS numbers help distinguish between different forms of the same compound. For instance, while both 1317-38-0 and 1317-39-1 refer to cupric oxide, they represent different physical forms—one as a wire, the other as a black powder. This level of specificity is crucial in laboratories, chemical manufacturing, and educational settings, where accuracy is essential.
CAS was established in 1907 as a division of the American Chemical Society to help scientists access scientific literature more efficiently. In the 1960s, the CAS Registry was introduced to streamline chemical identification, and in 1980, the CAS online database was launched, becoming an indispensable tool for researchers worldwide. Today, organizations like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Union’s REACH program rely on CAS numbers for precise chemical identification, ensuring transparency and safety in chemical regulation.
When looking for a CAS number, two of the most reliable sources are ChemIDplus, provided by the National Library of Medicine, and the NIST Chemistry Webbook from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Let’s walk through an example using ChemIDplus. Simply search “ChemIDplus†on Google and click on the first result. On the “ChemIDplus Advanced†page, enter the compound name in the “Substance Identification†field. For instance, if you search for "Ibuprofen," the CAS number will appear directly under the substance name. If you search for a brand name like "Advil," you may need to check the “Names and Synonyms†section to confirm it’s the same compound. Keep in mind that CAS numbers might appear in different formats on other websites, so always double-check the match between the number and the compound to avoid errors in your work.
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