What is a CAS Number?
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In order to accurately identify specific chemicals, the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) assigns a unique CAS Registry Number to over 163 million organic and inorganic compounds. These numbers are alphanumeric strings, typically ranging from five to ten characters, formatted as xxxx-yy-z. Think of them as a compound's Social Security Number—regardless of the compound's name(s), it has only one CAS Number. This system has significantly simplified scientific communication, addressing many challenges caused by the multitude of names for compounds. For instance, methanol has numerous synonyms in English alone—methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, carbinol, methylol, hydroxymethyl, MeOH, etc. When referenced by its CAS Number, 67-56-1, it transcends language barriers and avoids confusion among different names. Furthermore, CAS Numbers are assigned to specific forms of compounds to eliminate ambiguity. Both 1317-38-0 and 1317-39-1 represent Cupric Oxide, but the former is a wire while the latter is a powder. Thus, a simple number clarifies which form is being discussed. CAS Numbers are especially valuable in laboratories, chemical trade, and education. They are easy to find online, such as on Google, and entirely free.
The CAS was established in 1907 as part of the American Chemical Society to assist scientists in accessing relevant literature. Sixty years later, they introduced the CAS Number to simplify chemical identification. In 1980, the CAS online database was launched, proving indispensable for chemical research and information exchange. Today, regulatory bodies like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Union (EU) rely on CAS Numbers for precise chemical identification, particularly in regulations like REACH. The CAS Number system is virtually universal in chemistry and straightforward to use. There are several methods to find a compound's CAS Number, and here's one example.
To locate a compound's CAS Number using ChemIDplus from the National Library of Medicine, start by searching for "ChemIDplus" in Google. Click on the first result to access the advanced search page. Enter the desired compound in the "Substance Identification" field. For this example, let's use ibuprofen, since my dad and I recently debated its validity. After typing "ibuprofen," the main substance name will appear. If you search for "Advil" instead, you'll need to click on "Names and Synonyms" to confirm it refers to the same compound. Once you've confirmed the correct substance, the CAS Number will be listed directly beneath the name, marked with "RN." Note that some websites may display these numbers differently, such as in square brackets or with other abbreviations. Always double-check that the CAS Number corresponds to the correct compound and its form. Otherwise, your efforts could be wasted.
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