3.1. Trivial and Systematic Names in Chemistry
Initially, chemicals were designated with names that reflected the appearance, practical properties and characteristics, historical and even geographic associations.
For example:
| Latin | Etymology | English |
| argentum | Lat. arguere to be lucid | silver |
| bromum | Old Greek bromos bad smell, stench | bromine |
| chlorum | Old Greek chloros green | chlorine |
| cuprum | Old Greek Cyprus (the island) | copper |
| hydrogenium | Old Greek hydr- fluid + genes generating | hydrogen |
| oxygenium | Old Greek oxy- acidic + genes generating | oxygen |
| phosphorus | Old Greek phos- свет + phoros delivering | phosphorus |
| iodum | Old Greek iodes violet | iodine |
| acidum lacticum | Lat. lac (stem lact-) milk | lactic acid |
| acidum aceticum | Lat. acetum vinegar | acetic acid |
| acidum butyricum | Old Greek butyrum animal oil | butyric acid |
| acidum citricum | Lat. citrus lemon tree | citric acis |
| acidum formicum | Lat. formica ant | formic acid |
| acidum tartaricum | Lat. tartarum hard precipitate in a wine jar | tartaric acid |
Such names are defined as «trivial» from the Latin word trivialis, literally «located at the crossroads of three roads», i.e. located at a busy intersection, known to many, frequent, ordinary, simple, uncomplicated, easily accessible and understandable. Therefore, a «trivial name» is short, simple, convenient for use both in everyday life and by professionals.
However, the development of chemistry inevitably raised the question of creating a rational system of chemical nomenclature where the names would reflect the essential structural features of chemical substances and compounds, as well as the development of rules for the formation of these names. The modern chemical nomenclature is being developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Every chemical and compound is assigned a rational scientific chemical name that meets the requirements of the international systematized nomenclature, which strictly regulates the naming of chemicals depending on their structure and chemical composition.
Sometimes several chemical names coexist at the same time:
hydrogen oxide, hydrogen hydroxide, dihydrogen monoxide, hydroxyl acid, oxidane, dihydromonoxide.
And all of these describe ordinary water.
Systematic names give an exhaustive characterization of a compound but they are often very cumbersome and complex. Therefore, trivial names of compounds are commonly used instead of systematic chemical names.
For example:
| Formula | Systematic name | Trivial name |
| H2SO4 | hydrogen tetraoxosulfate (VI) | sulfuric acid |
| H2CO3 | hydrogen trioxycarbonate (IV) | carbonic acid |
Chemical compounds are not currently being given any new trivial names as this practice is not recommended. However, the systematic name is still often so long and complex, like α-D-glycopyranosyl-β-D-fructofuranozid (α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-fructofuranoside), that it is replaced with a simpler one: Saccharosi disaccharidum, and still simpler, saccharum.
However, some well-known hydrocarbons and their derivatives have trivial names recommended by the IURAC rules:
benzene, toluene, phenol, benzoic acid, acetone, acetic acid, formaldehyde.
At the same time, chemical nomenclature cannot exist outside the national language. As Mendeleev said, «In the matter of nomenclature, one cannot be completely consistent: there are certain customs, from which it is impossible to deviate, otherwise you risk being misunderstood even by those who are already accustomed to chemical presentation. Of the various names, one should choose one that does not strike the ear with its inconvenience». In addition, the past centuries have seen such an interweaving of international and national principles in chemical nomenclature that chemical names cannot simply be formally translated from one language to another. To impart a universal linguistic shape to chemical terminology, it is Latinized on purpose.