IUPAC Nomenclature Explorer

Learn to name organic molecules using IUPAC rules with interactive 3D visualization.

propane

C₃H₈

beginner

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2-methylpropane

C₄H₁₀

2-methylbutane

C₅H₁₂

heptane

C₇H₁₆

octane

C₈H₁₈

but-1-ene

C₄H₈

but-1-yne

C₄H₆

hexane

C₆H₁₄

2-methylpentane

C₆H₁₄

3-methylpentane

C₆H₁₄

3-methylhexane

C₇H₁₆

2,3-dimethylpentane

C₇H₁₆

2,3-dimethylbutane

C₆H₁₄

2,2-dimethylpropane

C₅H₁₂

4-methylheptane

C₈H₁₈

3-ethylhexane

C₈H₁₈

pent-2-ene

C₅H₁₀

hex-2-ene

C₆H₁₂

2-methylprop-1-ene

C₄H₈

2-methylbut-2-ene

C₅H₁₀

pent-1-yne

C₅H₈

hex-2-yne

C₆H₁₀

3-methylbut-1-yne

C₅H₈

3-ethylpentane

C₇H₁₆

2,4-dimethylpentane

C₇H₁₆

4-ethyl-2-methylhexane

C₉H₂₀

2,2,4-trimethylpentane

C₈H₁₈

3,3-dimethylhexane

C₈H₁₈

3-ethyl-2-methylheptane

C₁₀H₂₂

2,2,3-trimethylpentane

C₈H₁₈

3,3-diethylpentane

C₉H₂₀

4-propylheptane

C₁₀H₂₂

3-ethyl-2,4-dimethylpentane

C₉H₂₀

3-methylpent-1-ene

C₆H₁₂

4-methylhex-2-ene

C₇H₁₄

4-methylpent-2-yne

C₆H₁₀

3,3-dimethylbut-1-yne

C₆H₁₀

4-methylhex-1-yne

C₇H₁₂

chloromethane

CH₃Cl

chloroethane

C₂H₅Cl

2-chloropropane

C₃H₇Cl

1-bromobutane

C₄H₉Br

2-bromopropane

C₃H₇Br

1-chloro-2-methylpropane

C₄H₉Cl

2-bromo-2-methylpropane

C₄H₉Br

1-bromo-3-methylbutane

C₅H₁₁Br

methanol

CH₄O

ethanol

C₂H₆O

propan-1-ol

C₃H₈O

propan-2-ol

C₃H₈O

butan-1-ol

C₄H₁₀O

2-methylpropan-1-ol

C₄H₁₀O

2-methylbutan-2-ol

C₅H₁₂O

3-methylbutan-1-ol

C₅H₁₂O

cyclopropane

C₃H₆

cyclopentane

C₅H₁₀

cyclohexane

C₆H₁₂

methylcyclopentane

C₆H₁₂

methylcyclohexane

C₇H₁₄

1,2-dimethylcyclopentane

C₇H₁₄

1-ethyl-3-methylcyclohexane

C₉H₁₈

1,1-dimethylcyclohexane

C₈H₁₆

Concepts

What Is IUPAC Naming?

Every organic molecule needs a unique, unambiguous name so chemists worldwide can communicate precisely. That's what the IUPAC system provides.

Common names like "isobutane" or "neopentane" are still used informally, but they don't scale. There are millions of organic compounds, and common names run out fast.

IUPAC = International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Their naming rules let you go from a structure to a name (and back) using a consistent set of steps.

The next steps will walk you through the key rules for naming organic molecules. Once you learn the pattern, it applies to every compound you'll encounter.

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About This Molecule

propane (C₃H₈)

Parent chain: propane (3C) · No substituents

Concepts

What Is IUPAC Naming?

Every organic molecule needs a unique, unambiguous name so chemists worldwide can communicate precisely. That's what the IUPAC system provides.

Common names like "isobutane" or "neopentane" are still used informally, but they don't scale. There are millions of organic compounds, and common names run out fast.

IUPAC = International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Their naming rules let you go from a structure to a name (and back) using a consistent set of steps.

The next steps will walk you through the key rules for naming organic molecules. Once you learn the pattern, it applies to every compound you'll encounter.

←/→to navigate

swipe to navigate

About This Molecule

propane (C₃H₈)

Parent chain: propane (3C) · No substituents

IUPAC Nomenclature Explorer

propane

propane

butane

pentane

2-methylpropane

2-methylbutane

heptane

octane

prop-1-ene

but-1-ene

prop-1-yne

but-1-yne

hexane

2-methylpentane

3-methylpentane

3-methylhexane

2,3-dimethylpentane

2,3-dimethylbutane

2,2-dimethylpropane

4-methylheptane

3-ethylhexane

pent-2-ene

hex-2-ene

2-methylprop-1-ene

2-methylbut-2-ene

pent-1-yne

hex-2-yne

3-methylbut-1-yne

3-ethylpentane

2,4-dimethylpentane

4-ethyl-2-methylhexane

2,2,4-trimethylpentane

3,3-dimethylhexane

3-ethyl-2-methylheptane

2,2,3-trimethylpentane

3,3-diethylpentane

4-propylheptane

3-ethyl-2,4-dimethylpentane

3-methylpent-1-ene

4-methylhex-2-ene

4-methylpent-2-yne

3,3-dimethylbut-1-yne

4-methylhex-1-yne

chloromethane

chloroethane

2-chloropropane

1-bromobutane

2-bromopropane

1-chloro-2-methylpropane

2-bromo-2-methylpropane

1-bromo-3-methylbutane

methanol

ethanol

propan-1-ol

propan-2-ol

butan-1-ol

2-methylpropan-1-ol

2-methylbutan-2-ol

3-methylbutan-1-ol

cyclopropane

cyclopentane

cyclohexane

methylcyclopentane

methylcyclohexane

1,2-dimethylcyclopentane

1-ethyl-3-methylcyclohexane

1,1-dimethylcyclohexane

Concepts

What Is IUPAC Naming?

About This Molecule

Concepts

What Is IUPAC Naming?

About This Molecule