ABSTRACT
Conceptually, for both cyclic and acyclic structures, there are two approaches to numbering and naming chemical graphs. For ring systems, the approaches are (i) to pick a path through e a ^ ring system, and (ii) to number and name e a ^ component ring in turn. For acyclic systems, they are (i) to consider each system as one unit, and (ii) to consider each system as the sum of unbranched components. Numbering of atoms or nodes is of fundamental importance to any nomenclature but is not always taken into consideration. Unique numbering of atoms or nodes is preferable because it eliminates ambiguity in, for example, description of stereochemistry.
