What is the primary purpose of the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number?

The primary purpose of the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number is to uniquely identify a chemical substance. Each CAS number is a distinct numerical identifier assigned to a specific chemical compound, which allows for clear and unambiguous communication regarding that substance across various platforms, including scientific literature, regulatory documents, and safety data sheets. This system ensures that there is no confusion among similar chemicals, aiding researchers, manufacturers, and emergency responders in accurately identifying and discussing chemicals.

While classifying hazardous materials, determining chemical reactivity, and providing safety information are indeed important aspects of chemical management and safety, they do not encapsulate the core function of the CAS number itself. The CAS numbering system is focused entirely on the unique identification of substances, which serves as the foundation for reliable classification and safety communication.