Precedence in names

Like other organic compounds, many carboxylic acids have common names that are used frequently in the literature. These names often indicate the natural sources from which the acids were first isolated (Table 19-1). Chemical Abstracts retains the conunon names for the two simplest, formic and acetic acids. The carboxy function and the functional groups of its derivatives take precedence in naming over any other group discussed so far. 

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