The naming of organic compounds is crucial as millions of different chemical substances exist, and unique names help us differentiate them. The name of an organic compound should provide information about its class, the length of its longest carbon chain, and any substituents and functional groups present.

• Substituent: Any part of an organic compound that is not part of the longest carbon chain. For instance, any alkyl group in an alkane that is not part of the main chain is considered a substituent.
• Branched-Chain Alkane: An alkane with alkyl substituents.
• Functional Group: A group of atoms that determines the compound's properties and its chemical reactivity.
• IUPAC Nomenclature: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) developed a universal chemical naming system for both organic and inorganic compounds. This system helps avoid confusion, eliminate language barriers, and facilitate the communication of knowledge.

• Name the Main Chain: Find the longest continuous carbon chain in the compound, which will be the main chain. Name this chain based on the number of carbon atoms (e.g., "methane" for one carbon atom, "ethane" for two, "propane" for three, etc.).
• Identify and Name the Substituents: Locate any groups attached to the main chain that aren't part of it, known as substituents. Name these groups as well, using prefixes like "methyl" for one carbon, "ethyl" for two, and so on.
• Number the Main Chain: Number the carbons in the main chain starting from the end closest to the substituent.
• Add Substituent Names with Positions: Attach the substituent names to the main chain name with their respective carbon numbers (e.g., "3-methylpentane" for a pentane chain with a methyl group attached to the third carbon).
• Identify and Name Functional Groups: If the compound has a functional group, name it using the appropriate suffix or prefix (e.g., "alcohol" for -OH groups or "aldehyde" for -CHO groups).
• Use Commas and Hyphens: Use commas to separate numbers and hyphens to separate numbers from words in the compound's name.