International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Overview
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations that represents chemists in individual countries. It is a member of the International Council of Science (ICSU). The international headquarters of IUPAC is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
History
IUPAC was established in 1919 as the successor of the International Congress of Applied Chemistry for the advancement of chemistry. Its members, the National Adhering Organizations, can be national chemistry societies, national academies of sciences, or other bodies representing chemists. There are fifty-four National Adhering Organizations and three Associate National Adhering Organizations. IUPAC's Inter-divisional Committee on Nomenclature and Symbols (IUPAC nomenclature) is the recognized world authority in developing standards for the naming of the chemical elements and compounds.
Structure
IUPAC is governed by its Council, which is made up of representatives of member countries. The Council elects the President and other officers. The Council meets in a General Assembly, which is held concurrently with the IUPAC Congress. The Executive Committee manages IUPAC's operations between Council meetings. It is composed of the President, the Past President, the Vice President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and eight elected Bureau members.
Activities
IUPAC's activities are divided into eight divisions: Physical and Biophysical Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry; Polymer; Analytical Chemistry; Chemistry and the Environment; Chemical Nomenclature and Structure Representation; and Chemistry and Human Health. Each division is managed by a Division Committee that reports to the Executive Committee.
IUPAC is known for its work in the naming of elements, the standardization of atomic weights and the preparation of standard methods for the analysis of chemical substances including the determination of their purity and the measurement of their physical properties. It also promotes the teaching of chemistry, the application of chemistry in industry and the public understanding of chemistry.
Publications
IUPAC has a long tradition of publishing in the field of chemistry. It publishes a series of books, the "IUPAC Color Books", that provide definitive rules for naming chemical compounds and a standard set of symbols for use in chemistry. Other publications include the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry, the IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (also known as the "Gold Book"), and the IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series.