International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is an international federation comprising National Adhering Organisations dedicated to the advancement of the chemical sciences. Its primary focus is on developing nomenclature and terminology within the field. IUPAC is a member of the International Science Council (ISC) and is registered in Zürich, Switzerland. The organisation's administrative office, known as the "IUPAC Secretariat", is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States. The executive director oversees this administrative office, and the current executive director is Greta Heydenrych. IUPAC plays a crucial role in standardising chemical communication and fostering collaboration among chemists worldwide.

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
अन्तरराष्ट्रीय शुद्ध एवं अनुप्रयुक्त रसायन सङ्घ

File:IUPAC.svg
Abbreviation	IUPAC
Formation	1919 (1919)
Type	International non-governmental organisation, standards organiation
Headquarters	Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States
Region served	Worldwide
Membership	International Science Council
Official language	English
President	Ehud Keinan
Vice President	Mary Garson
Secretary General	Zoltán Mester
Website	{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}

IUPAC was established in 1919 as the successor to the International Congress of Applied Chemistry, with the mission of advancing the field of chemistry. Its membership consists of National Adhering Organisations, which may include national chemistry societies, national academies of sciences, or other entities representing chemists. Currently, IUPAC has fifty-four National Adhering Organisations and three Associate National Adhering Organisations. The Inter-divisional Committee on Nomenclature and Symbols, commonly referred to as IUPAC nomenclature, serves as the recognised global authority for developing standards for naming chemical elements and compounds. Since its inception, IUPAC has been governed by various committees, each tasked with distinct responsibilities. These committees undertake a range of projects, including standardizing nomenclature, promoting the accessibility of chemistry to the public, and publishing scientific works. Through these efforts, IUPAC plays a vital role in fostering communication and collaboration within the global chemistry community. IUPAC is primarily recognized for its significant contributions to standardising nomenclature in chemistry; however, its publications extend across various scientific fields, including biology and physics. Some of the notable achievements IUPAC has made in these areas include standardising nucleotide base sequence code names, publishing educational resources for environmental scientists, chemists, and physicists, and enhancing science education overall.

Additionally, IUPAC is renowned for its work in standardising the atomic weights of elements through one of its longest-serving committees, the Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW). This committee plays a crucial role in providing accurate and consistent atomic weight values, which are essential for scientific research and applications. Through these initiatives, IUPAC continues to facilitate collaboration and communication within the broader scientific community.

History

The need for an international standard in chemistry was first recognised in 1860 during a committee led by German scientist Friedrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz. This committee convened the first international conference aimed at creating a unified naming system for organic compounds. The concepts developed during this conference laid the groundwork for what would become the official IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry. As a result, IUPAC is considered a legacy of this pivotal meeting and stands as one of the most significant historical collaborations among chemistry societies. IUPAC was formally established in 1919 and has since held the responsibility of updating and maintaining the official nomenclature for organic compounds.

Notably, Germany was excluded from early IUPAC participation due to prejudice from the Allied powers following World War I. It wasn't until 1929 that Germany was finally admitted into IUPAC. However, during World War II, Nazi Germany was removed from the organisation. Throughout the war, IUPAC aligned itself with the Allied powers but had minimal involvement in the war effort. Both East and West Germany were readmitted to IUPAC in 1973. Since World War II, IUPAC has concentrated on standardising nomenclature and methodologies across various scientific disciplines, continuing its vital role in the global scientific community.

In 2016, IUPAC publicly condemned the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon. This stance was articulated in a letter addressed to Ahmet Üzümcü, the director of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In the correspondence, IUPAC expressed its serious concerns regarding the use of chlorine as a weapon during the Syrian civil war and in other contexts. The letter emphasized, Our organisations 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, which has 192 state party signatories, the use, stockpiling, distribution, development, or storage of any chemical weapons is strictly prohibited. IUPAC's condemnation reflects its commitment to ethical standards in chemistry and its support for global efforts to prevent the misuse of chemical substances.