ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Systematic name

When scientists discover and study new substances, they often give them really long and complicated names that can be difficult to remember or pronounce. These names are called systematic names.

Systematic names are a way of naming things that makes sure everyone can understand them clearly. Scientists use rules and guidelines to come up with these names.

For example, let's say a scientist discovers a new molecule made up of 5 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms. Instead of calling it "that molecule with 5 carbons and 10 hydrogens," they would give it a systematic name based on its chemical structure.

The name might be something like "pentane" which tells us how many carbon atoms are in the molecule. It might also include information about the placement of the atoms and any other functional groups (groups of atoms that have specific properties) present in the molecule.

So instead of having to remember a complicated name, scientists can use systematic names to easily understand what substances they are working with.