IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry

IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry is a standardized system for naming organic compounds from their molecular structures. Its rules encode features such as carbon skeletons, functional groups, and stereochemistry in systematic names.

Preferred IUPAC name: The single name selected as preferred under IUPAC recommendations when a compound has multiple acceptable systematic names. The naming procedure aims to select this standardized name from possible alternatives.
Organic compound: A chemical compound built primarily from carbon, commonly bonded to hydrogen and other elements. The nomenclature system is designed to distinguish compounds in this broad chemical family.
Chemical Abstracts Service: An organization that indexes chemical literature and assigns unique registry numbers to substances. Its substance records help distinguish compounds even when naming conventions yield multiple names.
Retained name: A traditional or historically established chemical name retained for use alongside systematic nomenclature. Retained names such as acetone can be shorter and more familiar than systematic alternatives.
Parent hydride: A hydride chosen as the structural basis for naming a compound, such as an acyclic chain or ring system. Selecting the parent establishes the framework from which substituents and suffixes are named.
Functional group: A structural unit in a molecule that gives it characteristic chemical properties and reactions. Functional groups influence suffix choice, prefix choice, and naming priority.
CAS Registry Number: A unique numerical identifier assigned to a chemical substance in the CAS Registry. It complements systematic names when precise substance identification is needed.
Common name: A widely used chemical name that may not follow systematic naming rules or uniquely specify structure. Common names can be convenient but may be ambiguous or inconsistent across regions.
IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry: IUPAC rules for naming inorganic substances, including elements, ions, coordination compounds, and extended solids. Its rules address inorganic structures rather than the organic parent-and-functional-group choices central here.
Skeletal formula: A line representation of an organic molecule in which carbon atoms and many attached hydrogens are implicit. Interpreting skeletal structures is often the first step before assigning a systematic name.

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