The characteristics of Chinese chemical terminology. The use of the Celestial Stems (天干) in the formation of the Chinese-language systematic names of selected organic compounds

Abstract

The Chinese chemical terminology demonstrates certain unique characteristics, which distinguish it from its counterparts in English and in Polish. The paper presents the origin and the use of the Celestial Stems (天干), which constitute an element of the Chinese-language systematic names of numerous organic compounds, while additionally describing a related group of words known as the Earthly Branches (地支). It also identifies the most important morphemes used in the formation of the systematic names of selected simple organic compounds, demonstrating the link between the meaning and the written form of these morphemes and the properties of the aforementioned compounds. The examples of Chinese-language names included in the paper are compared with their English and Polish equivalents in order to clearly illustrate the differences between them.