What do chemists really call compounds

But we do need to be able to communicate by speech and by writing as weii. In principle we could do this by using systematic names. In practice, however, the fuii systematic names of anything but the simplest molecules are far too clumsy for use in everyday chemical speech. There are several alternatives, mostly based on a mixture of trivial and systematic names. 

Names for well-known and widely used simple compounds 

A few simple compounds are called by trivial names not because the systematic names are complicated, but just out of habit. We know them so weii that we use their familiar names. 

You may have met the compound on the right before and perhaps called it ethanoic acid, its systematic name. But in a chemical laboratory everyone would refer to this acid as acetic acid, its trivial name. The same is true for all these common substances. 

Trivial names like this are often long-lasting, well-understood historical names that are less easy to confuse than their systematic counterparts. Acetaldehyde is easier to distinguish from ethanol than is ethanaT. 

The point of naming a compound is to be able to communicate with other chemists. Most chemists are happiest communicating chemistry by means of structural diagrams, and structural drawings are far more important than any sort of chemical nomenclature. That s why we explained in detail how to draw structures, but only gave an outline of how to name compounds. Good diagrams are easy to understand, quick to draw, and difficult to misinterpret. 

We haven t asked you to remember any trivial names of molecules yet. But these 10 compounds are so important, you must be able to remember them. Learn them now. 

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