Synonyms (chemistry)
From WolfWikis
The term 'synonyms' is used to describe alternate names for a given chemical substance. Synonyms can be other common names, brand names, scientific names, systamtic names, or names from alternate nomenclatures.
It is highly recommended that when searching for chemicals in databases, you use the CAS number (exception: PubChem).
For example, aspirin, which is the common name for 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid, also known as acetylsalicylic acid. Also, according to SciFinder Scholar, known as
Rhodine (7CI); Salicylic acid acetate (8CI); 2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic acid; 2-Acetoxybenzoic acid; 2-Carboxyphenyl acetate; A.S.A. Empirin; AC 5230; ASA; Acenterine; Acesal; Acesan; Acetard; Aceticyl; Acetilum acidulatum; Acetisal; Acetol; Acetonyl; Acetophen; Acetosal; Acetosalic acid; Acetosalin; Acetylin; Acetylsal; Acetylsalicylic acid; Acetyonyl; Acetysal; Acidum acetylsalicylicum; Acimetten; Acisal; Acylpyrin; Adiro; Albyl E; Asaflow; Asagran; Asatard; Ascoden 30; Ascolong; Ascriptin; Aspalon; Aspergum; Aspirdrops; Aspirin; Aspirin Protect 100; Aspirin Protect 300; Aspirin-Direkt; Aspirina 03; Aspro; Aspro Clear; Aspropharm; Asteric; Bayer; Benaspir; Bialpirina; Bialpirinia; Caprin; Cardioaspirina; Claradin; Colfarit; Contrheuma Retard; Coricidin; Coricidin D; Crystar; Darvon Compound; Dolean pH 8; Dominal; Doril; Duramax; ECM; Easprin; Ecotrin; Empirin; Endosprin; Endydol; Entericin; Enterophen; Enterosarine; Entrophen; Ewin; Extren; Gelprin; Globentyl; Globoid; Helicon; Idragin; Istopirin; Kapsazal; Lysoprin (pharmaceutical); Magnecyl; Measurin; Medisyl; Melhoral; Micristin; Miniasal; NSC 27223; NSC 406186; Neuronika; Novid; Nu-seals; O-Acetylsalicylic acid; Persistin; Polopiryna; Rheumintabletten; Rhodine 2312; Rhodine NC RP; Rhonal; SP 189; Salacetin; Salcetogen; Saletin; Salospir; Salycylacetylsalicylic acid; Solpyron; Supac; Temperal; Toldex; Triple-sal; Trombyl; Xaxa; Yasta; Zorprin; o-(Acetyloxy)benzoic acid; o-Acetoxybenzoic acid; o-Carboxyphenyl acetate
Or, its CAS number is 50-78-2.
Which is to say, searching databases by using synonyms can often be a mistake. Most of them won't index more than a few of these names. The CAS number will be constant and indexed in nearly all sources.
Most information sources that have property information list at least a few synonyms. There are also chemical tradename and common name dictionaries. Search for these in the library catalog.