IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry - Common Nomenclature - Trivial Names

Trivial Names

Common nomenclature is an older system of naming organic compounds. Instead of using the prefixes for the carbon skeleton above, another system is used. The pattern can be seen below.

Number of
carbons		 Prefix as in
new system		 Common name
for alcohol		 Common name
for aldehyde		 Common name
for acid
1 Meth Methyl alcohol
(wood alcohol)		 Formaldehyde Formic acid
2 Eth Ethyl alcohol
(grain alcohol)		 Acetaldehyde Acetic acid
3 Prop Propyl alcohol Propionaldehyde Propionic acid
4 But Butyl alcohol Butyraldehyde Butyric acid
5 Pent Amyl alcohol Valeraldehyde Valeric acid
6 Hex - Caproaldehyde Caproic acid
7 Hept Enanthyl alcohol Enanthaldehyde Enanthoic acid
8 Oct Capryl alcohol Caprylaldehyde Caprylic acid
9 Non - Pelargonaldehyde Pelargonic acid
10 Dec Capric alcohol Capraldehyde Capric acid
11 Undec - - -
12 Dodec Lauryl alcohol Lauraldehyde Lauric acid
14 Tetradec - Myristaldehyde Myristic acid
16 Hexadec Cetyl alcohol Palmitaldehyde Palmitic acid
17 Heptadec - - Margaric acid
18 Octadec Stearyl alcohol Stearaldehyde Stearic acid
20 Eicos Arachidyl alcohol - Arachidic acid
22 Docos Behenyl alcohol - Behenic acid
24 Tetracos Lignoceryl alcohol - Lignoceric acid
26 Hexacos Cerotinyl alcohol - Cerotinic acid
28 Octacos Mountainyl alcohol - Mountainic acid
30 Triacont Melissyl alcohol - Melissic acid
40 Tetracont - - -

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