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Glossary

This is a list of commonly used terms in the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Term Definition
Chemical Abstracts
Service (CAS)
A universal system of numbering and naming that is used to identify chemicals and specific chemical mixtures.
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in 1997, is an international treaty which bans the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons and also stipulates their timely destruction.
Consumption The conversion of a chemical into another chemical via a chemical reaction.
Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs) Chemicals belonging to a class of chemical compounds consisting of all compounds of carbon except for its oxides, sulfides, and metal carbonates. Although DOCs are not included in the Schedules, plant sites producing DOCs are subject to the terms of the Convention if they produce more than 200 tonnes annually.
Plant Site The geographic location at which chemicals are produced, it may be comprised of numerous plants or factories and many buildings.
Precursor Any chemical reactant which takes part at any stage in the production of a toxic chemical, including any key component of a binary or multi-component chemical system.
Processing A physical process-formulation, extraction and purification-during which a chemical is not converted into another chemical.
Production Refers to the formation through a chemical reaction or by a biochemical or biologically mediated reaction, and includes forming the chemical by any such reaction as an intermediate, a by-product or a waste product during the manufacture of any product.
Toxic chemical Any chemical that through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals.
 
Last reviewed on 12 March 2010
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