Table 1.
Examples of the correct and incorrect (or undesirable) uses of the proposed nomenclature for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)
| Example statements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Example | Correct | Incorrect or undesirable |
 |
• Both are PFASs, within the family of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances | • Both are: |
| – Perfluoroalkyl substances, chemicals, compounds | ||
| – Perfluorinated substances, chemicals, compounds | ||
| – Polyfluoroalkyl substances | ||
| – Polyfluorinated substances | ||
| – Fluorocarbons | ||
| – Perfluorocarbons | ||
 |
• Both are carboxylic acids | – Fluorinated substances, chemicals, compounds |
| – Perfluorochemicals | ||
| – Perfluorinated chemicals | ||
| • Both contain fluorocarbons | ||
 |
• All H atoms on all C atoms in the alkyl chain attached to the carboxylic acid functional group are replaced by F | • This is a: |
| – Perfluorinated substance, chemical, compound | ||
| – Fluorinated substance, chemical, compound | ||
| – Fluorocarbon | ||
| • This is a: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA), perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) | – Perfluorocarbon | |
| • Specifically, this is perfluorooctanoic acid, CAS number 335-67-1 | ||
 |
• The alkyl chain attached to the carboxylic acid functional group is polyfluorinated | • This is a: |
| – Polyfluorinated substance, chemical, compound | ||
| – Fluorinated substance, chemical, compound | ||
| • This is a: PFAS, polyfluoroalkyl acid, polyfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid | – Perfluorinated substance, chemical, compound | |
| • A portion of this compound is perfluorinated | ||
| • Specifically, this is 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,7,7,8,8,8- tridecafluorooctanoic acid | ||