Chemical nomenclature: Trivial names

A trivial name is a non-systematic name for a chemical substance. Trivial names are not officially recognized according to the systematic rules of formal IUPAC chemical nomenclature, but might still be commonly used informally in chemistry. You might come across trivial (or common) naming in written text, atom labels in chemical structures or in chemical formulae.

Common/trivial chemical prefixes glossary:

Trivial Prefix	Prefix Expansion	Notes
Me	Methan- or Methyl group
Et	Ethan- or Ethyl group
Pr	Propan- or Propyl
Bu	Butan- or Butyl group
tert-	tertiary	Tertiary, branched carbon chain.
iso-	isomer	All carbons except one form a continuous chain. Can also indicate a constitutional isomer with a trivial name.
n-	'normal'	Continuous, unbranched carbon chain.