Common name (chemistry)

Trivial names are names for chemical compounds that do not comply with the systematic nomenclature rules of chemistry and therefore only in rare cases and then only partially provide information about the composition and structure of the compound, for example Michler's ketone , where the partial structure is called ketone . Trivial names mostly come from before the introduction of the nomenclature or are used for the sake of simplicity when the systematic name is very complicated. In some cases (for example with heterocycles , biomolecules or condensed polycyclic hydrocarbons ), trivial names have also entered today's systematic nomenclature as components. In other cases, too, trivial names are often used on an equal footing with the IUPAC names.

For many organic substances, almost only trivial names are used, since it is becoming increasingly difficult to give a correct IUPAC name at all for complex organic substances. Such IUPAC names are often very long and complex; they can hinder technical communication instead of making it easier.

The substances listed in the following lists represent an exemplary selection. They do not contain any trivial names for mixtures of substances and minerals.

Inorganic substances

Solid substances

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Alum stone	Alunit	KAl 3 (SO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6
Antichlor	Sodium thiosulfate	Na 2 S 2 O 3
Caustic potash	Potassium hydroxide	KOH
Quicklime	Calcium oxide	CaO
caustic soda	Sodium hydroxide	NaOH
Barite nitrate	Barium nitrate	Ba (NO 3 ) 2
(Soluble) Berlin blue	Potassium hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	K [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ]
(insoluble) Berlin blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
Epsom salt	Magnesium sulfate	MgSO 4
Black lead	Lead (II) oxide	PbO
borax	Sodium tetraborate decahydrate	Na 2 B 4 O 7 • 10H 2 O
Quicklime	Calcium oxide	CaO
Bronze blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
Bullrich Salt	Sodium hydrogen carbonate	NaHCO 3
Carbide	Calcium carbide	CaC 2
Carborundum	Silicon carbide	SiC
Chile nitrate	Sodium nitrate	NaNO 3
Disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate	Disodium dihydrogen diphosphate	Na 2 H 2 P 2 O 7
bicarbonate of soda	Sodium hydrogen carbonate	NaHCO 3
Iron cyan blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
Iron hammer blow	Triiron tetraoxide	Fe 3 O 4
Ferrocyan Blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
Fixing salt	Sodium thiosulfate	Na 2 S 2 O 3
quick lime	Calcium oxide	CaO
yellow blood liquor salt	Potassium hexacyanidoferrate (II)	K 4 [Fe II (CN) 6 ]
Potassium hexacyanoferrate	Potassium hexacyanidoferrate (II)	K 4 [Fe II (CN) 6 ]
slaked lime	Calcium hydroxide	Ca (OH) 2
plaster	Calcium sulfate dihydrate	CaSO 4 • 2H 2 O
Glauber's salt	Sodium sulfate decahydrate	Na 2 SO 4 · 10 H 2 O
Hammer blow	Triiron tetraoxide	Fe 3 O 4
Deer horn salt	Ammonium hydrogen carbonate	NH 4 HCO 3
Hellstone	Silver nitrate	AgNO 3
Steel blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
Iodized silver	Silver iodide	AgI
Potash nitrate	Potassium nitrate	KNO 3
Potassium persulfate	Potassium peroxodisulfate	K 2 S 2 O 8
Potassium pyrosulfate	Potassium disulfate	K 2 S 2 O 7
lime	Calcium carbonate	CaCO 3
Calcium nitrate	Calcium nitrate	Ca (NO 3 ) 2
Calcium cyanamide	Calcium cyanamide	CaCN 2
Calomel	Mercury (I) chloride	Hg 2 Cl 2
carbide	Calcium carbide	CaC 2
Bright silver	Silver fulminate	AgCNO
Fiery mercury	Mercury (II) fulminate	Hg (CNO) 2
Table salt	Sodium chloride	NaCl
Blue vitriol	Copper sulfate	CuSO 4
Slaked lime	Calcium hydroxide	Ca (OH) 2
Marshallic acid	Peroxodisulfuric acid	H 2 S 2 O 8
Wall nitrate	Calcium nitrate	Ca (NO 3 ) 2
Red lead	Lead (II, IV) oxide	Pb 3 O 4
Sodium bicarbonate	Sodium hydrogen carbonate	NaHCO 3
Sodium metabisulfite	Sodium disulfite	Na 2 S 2 O 5
Sodium persulfate	Sodium peroxodisulfate	Na 2 S 2 O 8
Sodium pyrophosphate	Tetrasodium diphosphate	Na 4 P 2 O 7
Sodium pyrosulfate	Sodium disulfate	Na 2 S 2 O 7
Sodium pyrosulfite	Sodium disulfite	Na 2 S 2 O 5
Baking soda	Sodium hydrogen carbonate	NaHCO 3
Sodium nitrate	Sodium nitrate	NaNO 3
Parisian blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
Potash	Potassium carbonate	K 2 CO 3
Precipitate , meltable	Diammine mercury (II) chloride	[Hg (NH 3 ) 2 ] Cl 2
Prussian blue	Iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II / III)	Fe III [Fe III Fe II (CN) 6 ] 3
red blood liquor salt	Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III)	K 3 [Fe III (CN) 6 ]
Red potash	Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III)	K 3 [Fe III (CN) 6 ]
Sulphurous iron	Iron (II) sulfide	FeS
Sulfur silver	Silver sulfide	Ag 2 S
salt	Sodium chloride	NaCl
Tinfoil	tin	Sn
Plaster of paris	Calcium sulfate dihydrate	CaSO 4 · 2 H 2 O
sublimate	Mercury (II) chloride	HgCl 2
Sulfamide	Sulfuryl diamide	(NH 2 ) 2 SO 2
Dry ice	solid carbon dioxide	CO 2 (s)
unslaked lime	Calcium oxide	CaO
Washing soda	sodium	Na 2 CO 3
Zinc vitriol	Zinc sulfate	ZnSO 4
Potassium cyanide	Potassium cyanide	KCN
cinnabar	Mercury (II) sulfide	HgS

liquids

Almost without exception, the substances mentioned here are aqueous solutions.

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Barite water	Barium hydroxide	Ba (OH) 2
Boron water	Orthoboric acid	H 3 BO 3
Caro's acid	Peroxomonosulfuric acid	H 2 SO 5
Eau de Javel, Javel water	Potassium hypochlorite	KOCl (aq)
Eau de Labarraque	Sodium hypochlorite	NaOCl (aq)
Hydrofluoric acid	Hydrofluoric acid	HF
Milk of lime	Calcium hydroxide	Ca (OH) 2
Potassium hydroxide	Potassium hydroxide	KOH
Lime water	Calcium hydroxide	Ca (OH) 2
Magnesia milk	Magnesium hydroxide	Mg (OH) 2
Caustic soda	Sodium hydroxide	NaOH
Oleum	sulfuric acid	H 2 SO 4
Pyrosulfuric acid	Disulfuric acid	H 2 S 2 O 7
Ammonia	ammonia	NH 3
hydrochloric acid	Hydrochloric acid	HCl
Separating water	nitric acid	ENT 3
Heavy water	Deuterium oxide	D 2 O
Heavy water	Tritium oxide	T 2 O
Theater blood	Iron thiocyanate	Fe (SCN) 3
Vitriol oil	sulfuric acid	H 2 SO 4
water	Dihydrogen oxide , oxidan	H 2 O

Gases

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
ammonia	Nitrogen trihydride	NH 3
Prussic acid	Hydrogen cyanide	HCN
steam	Dihydrogen oxide , oxidan (gaseous)	H 2 O
Pop acid	Formonitrile oxide	HCNO
Carbon dioxide	carbon dioxide	CO 2
Carbon monoxide	Carbon monoxide	CO
Laughing gas	Nitrous oxide	N 2 O
ozone	Tri-oxygen	O 3
Sulfane	Hydrogen sulfide	H 2 S

Organic substance

Alkanes / alkenes / alkynes / haloalkanes and alkenes

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Carbon tetrachloride	Carbon tetrachloride	CCl 4
chloroform	Trichloromethane	CHCl 3
Iodoform	Triiodomethane	CHI 3
Per (chlorine)	Tetrachlorethylene	C 2 Cl 4
Tri (chlorine)	Trichlorethylene	C 2 HCl 3
Freon 12	Dichlorodifluoromethane	CCl 2 F 2
Ethylene	Ethene	C 2 H 4
acetylene	Ethine	C 2 H 2

Alcohols

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Alcohol , drinking alcohol , alcohol, primate spirit , alcohol	Ethanol
Amyl alcohol	Pentan-1-ol
Carbinol , wood alcohol , wood spirit	Methanol
Ethylene glycol , glycol	Ethane-1,2-diol
Glycerin , glycerol	Propane-1,2,3-triol
Cinnamon alcohol	3-phenyl-2-propenol

Phenols

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
phenol	Hydroxybenzene
Catechol	1,2-dihydroxybenzene
Resorcinol	1,3-dihydroxybenzene
Hydroquinone	1,4-dihydroxybenzene
Pyrogallol	1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene
Hydroxyhydroquinone	1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene
Phloroglucine	1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene

Aldehydes

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
acetaldehyde	Ethanal
Benzaldehyde bitter almond oil	Phenylmethanal
Butyraldehyde	Butanal
formaldehyde	Methanal
Cinnamaldehyde	3-phenyl-2-propenal

Ketones / ethers

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
acetone	2-propanone / dimethyl ketone
Ether	Diethyl ether
Anisole	Methoxybenzene
Dioxane	1-4-dioxacyclohexane

Carbonic acid derivatives

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
urea	Carbonic acid diamide	(NH 2 ) 2 CO
Phosgene	Carbonic acid dichloride	Cl 2 CO

Organic acids

Monocarboxylic acids

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Formic acid	Methanoic acid	HCOOH
acetic acid	Ethanoic acid	CH 3 COOH
Propionic acid	Propanoic acid	C 2 H 5 COOH
Butyric acid	Butanoic acid	C 3 H 7 COOH
Valeric acid	Pentanoic acid	C 4 H 9 COOH
Caproic acid	Hexanoic acid	C 5 H 11 COOH
Enanthic acid / pimelic acid	Heptanoic acid	C 6 H 13 COOH
Caprylic acid	Octanoic acid	C 7 H 15 COOH
Pelargonic acid	Nonanoic acid	C 8 H 17 COOH
Capric acid	Decanoic acid	C 9 H 19 COOH
Lauric acid	Dodecanoic acid	C 11 H 23 COOH
Myristic acid	Tetradecanoic acid	C 13 H 27 COOH
Palmitic acid	Hexadecanoic acid	C 15 H 31 COOH
Margaric acid	Heptadecanoic acid	C 16 H 33 COOH
Stearic acid	Octadecanoic acid	C 17 H 35 COOH
Arachidic acid	Eicosanoic acid	C 19 H 39 COOH
Behenic acid	Docosanoic acid	C 21 H 43 COOH
Lignoceric acid	Tetracosanoic acid	C 23 H 47 COOH
Cerotic acid	Hexacosanoic acid	C 25 H 51 COOH
Montanic acid	Octacosanoic acid	C 27 H 53 COOH
Melissic acid	Triacontanoic acid	C 29 H 57 COOH

Other carboxylic acids

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Acetoacetic acid	3-oxobutanoic acid
Malic acid	2-hydroxybutane-1,4-diacid
Ascorbic acid , vitamin C.	( R ) -5 - (( S ) -1,2-dihydroxyethyl) -3,4-dihydroxy-5 H -furan-2-one
Benzilic acid	Hydroxydiphenylethanoic acid
Succinic acid	1,4-butanedioic acid
Pyruvic acid	2-oxopropanoic acid
Fumaric acid	( E ) -2-butenedioic acid
Glycolic acid	2-hydroxyethanoic acid
Glyoxylic acid	Ethanal acid
Maleic acid	( Z ) -2-butenedioic acid
Malonic acid	1,3-propanedioic acid
Lactic acid	2-hydroxypropanoic acid
Oxalic acid	Ethanedioic acid
Salicylic acid	2-hydroxybenzoic acid
Tartaric acid	2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid
citric acid	2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
Cinnamic acid	( E ) -3-phenylpropenoic acid
Sugar acid	Glucaric acid
see also: List of acids

Ester

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Amyl acetate	Pentyl ethanoate	CH 3 COOC 5 H 11
Pear ether	Pentyl ethanoate	CH 3 COOC 5 H 11
Vinegar ether	Ethyl ethanoate	CH 3 COOC 2 H 5
Nitroglycerin	Glycerol trinitrate	C 3 H 5 (ONO 2 ) 3

Amines

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Cadaverine	1,5-diaminopentane
Putrescine	1,4-diaminobutane

Multifunctional connections

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Acetylsalicylic acid	2- (acetyloxy) benzoic acid
Paracetamol	N- (4-hydroxyphenyl) acetamide

Organic salts

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
Lead sugar	Lead (II) acetate	Pb (CH 3 COO) 2
Emetic tartar	Potassium antimonyl tartrate	K [C 4 H 2 O 6 Sb (OH) 2 ] • 1/2 H 2 O
Acetic clay	Aluminum diacetate	Al (CH 3 COO) 2 OH
Verdigris	Copper (II) acetate	basic copper acetate
Meerwein salt (imprecise)	Trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate
Rochelle salt	Potassium Sodium Tartrate	KNaC 4 H 4 O 6
Seignette salt	Potassium Sodium Tartrate	KNaC 4 H 4 O 6
Tartar	Potassium hydrogen tartrate	KHC 4 H 4 O 6

Aromatic hydrocarbons

Common name	IUPAC name	chemical formula
benzene	Benzene
Cumene	Isopropyl benzene
p -Cymol	Isopropyl-4-methylbenzene
Mesitylene	1,3,5-trimethylbenzene
naphthalene	Naphthalene
Stilbene	( E ) -Ethene-1,2-diyldibenzene
Styrene	Ethenylbenzene
Toluene (toluene)	Methylbenzene
o - xylene	1,2-dimethylbenzene

Carbohydrates and derivatives

Common name	Chemical name	chemical formula
Dextrose	glucose	C 6 H 12 O 6
glucose
Fructose	Fructose	C 6 H 12 O 6
Levulosis
Malt sugar	Maltose	C 12 H 22 O 11
Lactose	Lactose	C 12 H 22 O 11
sugar	Sucrose	C 12 H 22 O 11
Dinitrocellulose	Cellulose dinitrate	(C 6 H 8 O 9 N 2 ) n
Collodion wool
Nitrocellulose	Cellulose trinitrate	(C 6 H 7 O 11 N 3 ) n
Gun cotton
Acetyl cellulose	Cellulose diacetate	(C 10 H 14 O 7 ) n

Organometallic compounds

Common name	Chemical name	chemical formula
Grignard connection	Alkyl or aryl magnesium halide	R – Mg – X (R = alkyl / aryl , X = halogen )
Metallocenes ( ferrocene etc.)	Bis (cyclopentadienyl) metal ( bis (cyclopentadienyl) iron etc.)
Tebbe reagent	μ-Chlorobis (cyclopentadienyl) - (dimethylaluminum) -μ-methylene titanium

literature

• Christian Wiegand: "Origin and interpretation of important organic trivial names. I. Hydrocarbons of the benzene series", in: Angewandte Chemie , 1948 , 60  (4), pp. 109–111 ( doi : 10.1002 / anie.19480600407 ).
• Christian Wiegand: "Origin and interpretation of important organic trivial names. II. Polynuclear isocyclic hydrocarbons", in: Angewandte Chemie , 1948 , 60  (5), pp. 127–129 ( doi : 10.1002 / anie.19480600506 ).
• Christian Wiegand: "Origin and interpretation of important organic trivial names. III. Heterocyclic compounds", in: Angewandte Chemie , 1948 , 60  (7/8), pp. 204-207 ( doi : 10.1002 / anie.19480600709 ).
• M. Binnewies et alii: General and Inorganic Chemistry . 2nd Edition. Spectrum, 2011, ISBN 3-8274-2533-6 , pp. 9-11.

Web links

• IUPAC website
• IUPAC - Recommendations on Organic & Biochemical Nomenclature