How do IUPAC names differ from common names?
2 Answers
Apr 22, 2015
IUPAC names aim to give each chemical a clear, unique, and self-explanatory indicative name so that anyone can tell what the chemical is from its name.
A nice example is "Caffeine", where its IUPAC name is 1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione. For chemists familiar with IUPAC naming rules can easily relate that IUPAC name with its structure as shown in the picture below.
Apr 22, 2015
IUPAC is systematic naming, incorporating bonding and basic structural connections.
Common names are how we call it in everyday life.
We don't say 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, we say TNT.
We don't say methylbenzene as much, we just say Toluene.
