Graphical Representation Standards for Chemical Structure Diagrams (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
Graphical Representation Standards for Chemical Structure Diagrams (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
Jonathan Brecher
Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2008
Vol. 80, No. 2, pp. 277–410
doi:10.1351/pac200880020277
The purpose of a chemical structure diagram is to convey information—typically the identity of a molecule—to another human reader or as input to a computer program. Any form of communication, however, requires that all participants understand each other. Recommendations are provided for the display of two-dimensional chemical structure diagrams in ways that avoid ambiguity and are likely to be understood correctly by all viewers. Examples are provided in many areas, ranging from issues of typography and color selection to the relative positioning of portions of a diagram and the rotational alignment of the diagram as a whole. Explanations describe which styles are preferred and which should be avoided. Principal recommendations include: 1) Know your audience: Diagrams that have a wide audience should be drawn as simply as possible; 2) Avoid ambiguous drawing styles; 3) Avoid inconsistent drawing styles.
 |
Page last modified 5 June 2008.
Copyright © 2003-2008 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Questions regarding the website, please contact edit.ci@iupac.org
© 2014 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Contents
- Adding a Stone to the IUPAC Edifice
- Spain Celebrates Its Year of Science Honoring Mendeleev
- Where Does IUPAC Stand with Regard to this Discipline?
- Triads, Triads, Everywhere
- Chemistry in the Information and Communications Technology Age
- Analytical Terminology and the Orange Book–The Resources at the End of the Rainbow
- Peter Mahaffy Awarded 3M Canada Teaching Fellowship
- Pieter S. Steyn Receives Science for Society Gold Medal
- Chemical Heritage Foundation Produces Distillations, a Weekly Podcast
- Mechanistic Aspects of Chemical Vapor Generation of Volatile Hydrides for Trace Element Determination
- Assessment of Theoretical Methods for the Study of Reactions Involving Global Warming Gas Species Degradation and Byproduct Formation
- Analysis of the Usage of Nanoscience and Technology in Chemistry
- Extension of ThermoML–The IUPAC Standard for Thermodynamic Data Communications
- Provisional Recommendations
- Further Conventions for NMR Shielding and Chemical Shifts (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Transport of Pesticides via Macropores (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Performance Evaluation Criteria for Preparation and Measurement of Macro- and Microfabricated Ion-Selective Electrodes (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Chemists and “The Public”: IUPAC’s Role in Achieving Mutual Understanding (IUPAC Technical Report)
- DE STERS!
- Glossary of Terms Related to Solubility (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Structure-Based Nomenclature for Cyclic Organic Macromolecules (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Impact of Scientific Developments on the Chemical Weapons Convention (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Graphical Representation Standards for Chemical Structure Diagrams (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- The Periodic Table: Database or XML?
- The Investigation of Organic Reactions and their Mechanisms
- Modern Physical Chemistry for Advanced Materials
- Physical Organic Chemistry in Latin America
- Infrared Spectroscopy Applied to Biological and Biomimetic Systems
- Malta III–Research and Education in the Middle East
- The Future of Science Is through Its Students
- Physical Organic Chemistry
- Safe Food
- Macro- and Supra-Molecular Architectures and Materials
- Challenges in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry
- Nano-Bio & Clean Tech
- Chemistry Industry and Environment
- Mark Your Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Contents
- Adding a Stone to the IUPAC Edifice
- Spain Celebrates Its Year of Science Honoring Mendeleev
- Where Does IUPAC Stand with Regard to this Discipline?
- Triads, Triads, Everywhere
- Chemistry in the Information and Communications Technology Age
- Analytical Terminology and the Orange Book–The Resources at the End of the Rainbow
- Peter Mahaffy Awarded 3M Canada Teaching Fellowship
- Pieter S. Steyn Receives Science for Society Gold Medal
- Chemical Heritage Foundation Produces Distillations, a Weekly Podcast
- Mechanistic Aspects of Chemical Vapor Generation of Volatile Hydrides for Trace Element Determination
- Assessment of Theoretical Methods for the Study of Reactions Involving Global Warming Gas Species Degradation and Byproduct Formation
- Analysis of the Usage of Nanoscience and Technology in Chemistry
- Extension of ThermoML–The IUPAC Standard for Thermodynamic Data Communications
- Provisional Recommendations
- Further Conventions for NMR Shielding and Chemical Shifts (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Transport of Pesticides via Macropores (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Performance Evaluation Criteria for Preparation and Measurement of Macro- and Microfabricated Ion-Selective Electrodes (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Chemists and “The Public”: IUPAC’s Role in Achieving Mutual Understanding (IUPAC Technical Report)
- DE STERS!
- Glossary of Terms Related to Solubility (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Structure-Based Nomenclature for Cyclic Organic Macromolecules (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Impact of Scientific Developments on the Chemical Weapons Convention (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Graphical Representation Standards for Chemical Structure Diagrams (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- The Periodic Table: Database or XML?
- The Investigation of Organic Reactions and their Mechanisms
- Modern Physical Chemistry for Advanced Materials
- Physical Organic Chemistry in Latin America
- Infrared Spectroscopy Applied to Biological and Biomimetic Systems
- Malta III–Research and Education in the Middle East
- The Future of Science Is through Its Students
- Physical Organic Chemistry
- Safe Food
- Macro- and Supra-Molecular Architectures and Materials
- Challenges in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry
- Nano-Bio & Clean Tech
- Chemistry Industry and Environment
- Mark Your Calendar
