Abstract: This paper discusses the Chinese nomenclature for carboxylic acids between 1908 and 1932. Taking two western methods for naming carboxylic acids Geneva nomenclature and “carboxylic” nomenclature as reference, the author analyzes the characteristics of different proposals for the Chinese nomenclature of carboxylic acids, with a particular focus on the meanings of the word suan (酸) in the terms for carboxylic acids.

Key words: chemical nomenclature, Geneva nomenclature, “carboxylic” nomenclature, carboxylic
acid