International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
it consists of three parts
prefix - infix - suffix
prefix
gives the number of c atoms in the parent chain
1 meth
2 eth
3 prop
4 but
5 pent
6 hex
7 hept
8 oct
9 non
10 dec
11 undec
12 dodec
13 tridec
14 tetrodec
15 pentadec
16 hexadec
17 heptadec
18 octadec
19 nonadec
20 eicos
infix
givs the nature of c-c bond in the parent chain
c-c single bond an
c--c double bond en
c---c triple bond yn
suffix
givs the family or the class of the compound
hydrocarbon e
alcohol ol
aldehyde al
ketone one
carboxylic acid oic acid
ex
CH3-CH3
2C atom prefix is Eth
single bond infix is an
Hydrocarbon suffix is e
the IUPAC name is Ethane
duro_re