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Nomenclature, chemical
(807 words)

Chemical nomenclature is a system for naming chemical substances. It is a prerequisite for specialist communication, with every substance receiving a systematically unique name (Chemical sciences).

1. From trivial names to chemical nomenclature

The use of symbols to denote chemical substances dates back to ancient models. The alchemists of the early modern period used the planetary symbols for the seven metals and used s…

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Priesner, Claus, “Nomenclature, chemical”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 25 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_024811>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200128



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