Physicochemical Symbols

Abstract

The list above gives the symbols recommended by the Symbols Committee of the Eoyal Society (1951). A revised Eeport from this Committee is expected shortly and should be followed when available. The list above embodies the usage, which should be employed for all symbols, that i letters denote physical quantities (area, equilibrium constants, density, etc.), b i type denotes fundamental constants (gravitational constant; Planck’s constant, etc.), roman type denotes mathematical operators (d, log, etc.), and b roman type (or ordinary i) denotes vectors. Units of measurement (cm, ml, etc.) should be in ordinary roman type and should, by international agreement, not be followed by full points (full stops).

(Names of independent quantities are separated by colons; alternative names for a single quantity are separated by semicolons. Enclosure of the name of a quantity in parentheses indicates that there is an alternative symbol of equal standing; enclosure in square brackets indicates that there is another symbol which is preferred. An asterisk against the name of a quantity indicates that the specified symbol is always used with a subscript when denoting that quantity.)