Nomenclature of Liquid Crystals

Abstract

One of the signs of the maturing of a new area of knowledge is a heightened discussion and awareness of nomenclature, conventions and labels. In emerging sciences, the facts are often in dispute or open to different interpretations, and so premature attempts to categorize and standardize will only serve to confuse and delay real understanding. Liquid crystal science is now of an age when the attention of its practitioners is being drawn to considerations of nomen-clature. Indeed in 1997 IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) issued provisional recommendations concerning the definition of basic terms and symbols for liquid crystals. Members of the International Liquid Crystals Society have become involved with the preparation of a final document, which hopefully will be generally accepted and followed by scientists in the field. Some of the initial recommendations have already been reported in the new Handbook of Liquid Cryrstals, published in 1998 [1], so the process of formalising the nomenclature of liquid crystals has begun.