CAS Registry

CAS Registry. It is a comprehensive, authoritative database of disclosed chemical substances maintained by the American Chemical Society division known as CAS. The system assigns a unique numerical identifier, known as a CAS Registry Number, to every distinct chemical substance described in scientific literature, creating a universal standard for unambiguous identification. This registry serves as a foundational tool for scientists, regulators, and information professionals worldwide, enabling precise communication and data linkage across disciplines like pharmacology, toxicology, and environmental science.

Overview and Purpose

The primary purpose is to provide an unambiguous, non-proprietary identifier for chemical substances to overcome the challenges of complex systematic nomenclature and myriad trivial names. This is critical for ensuring accuracy in global regulatory compliance, patent examination, and scientific research. The system underpins major databases including SciFinder and STN International, facilitating efficient information retrieval. Its role is recognized by agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the European Chemicals Agency for substance tracking in initiatives like REACH.

Structure and Format

A CAS Registry Number is a numeric identifier separated by hyphens into three parts, with the final segment being a check digit that validates the number's authenticity. The assignment is sequential and carries no inherent chemical significance, though blocks of numbers are reserved for specific classes of substances. The associated records include the preferred Chemical Abstracts Service index name, molecular formulas, and detailed structural information. These records are meticulously curated by scientific analysts at CAS and are linked to the original documents in publications like the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Applications and Uses

The identifiers are indispensable in regulatory frameworks worldwide, used in submissions to the Food and Drug Administration for drug approvals and in safety data sheets governed by OSHA regulations. In commerce, they are required for chemical inventory reporting under laws like the Toxic Substances Control Act and for tracking substances listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Within academic and industrial research, they enable precise searching in platforms like PubMed and are crucial for patent analysis conducted by organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization.

History and Development

The registry was launched in 1965 by Chemical Abstracts Service as a project to systematically index chemical information from a growing body of global literature. Its creation was a direct response to the post-World War II explosion in chemical research and the subsequent need for organized data. A landmark achievement was the registration of the 50-millionth substance in 2009, highlighting exponential growth. The system's evolution has been closely tied to advancements in computer technology and database management, allowing it to scale from a printed index to a sophisticated digital resource integral to modern cheminformatics.

Management and Governance

The registry is managed and maintained exclusively by CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The assignment of numbers and curation of records follow strict, proprietary editorial policies to ensure consistency and reliability. Access to the full database is provided through licensed services, with governance focused on data integrity rather than public domain stewardship. The system's standards and identifiers are widely adopted by major entities including the National Library of Medicine for its PubChem database and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Category:Chemical databases Category:American Chemical Society Category:Scientific numbering systems