A System of Nomenclature for Isotopic Compounds

Abstract

A system of monenclature for isotopic compds. should have the following characteristics: (1) the system should be applicable to all isotopes; (2) the name of the isotopic compound should be very similar to that of the normal one; (3) the position or positions in the molecule of the isotopes present in abnormal concn. should be indicated; and (4) compounds containing isotopes in any abnormal concn. should be named by this system, rather than only those containing isotopes in essentially 100% concn., since for tracer purposes radioactive or stable isotopes in relatively small concns. may be used. As a beginning for this new system, it is suggested that the system for deuterium compounds now in use be extended by using the suffix -m, n, . . . -irP, where m and n are the positional numbers or Greek letters indicating the locations of sub-stituents, i is the element symbol in lower case letters of the isotope in abnormal concn., p is the mass number, and r is the number of atoms in the molecule with abnormal concns. of the isotope ip.