Thiols, commonly referred to as mercaptans, are organic compounds characterized by the presence of a mercapto group, which is essentially a sulfhydryl group (–SH) attached to a carbon atom. The nomenclature for thiols closely resembles that of alcohols, with the primary distinction being the addition of the suffix "thiol" to the name of the parent carbon chain.
When naming thiols, the process involves identifying the location of the mercapto group and any other substituents on the carbon chain. The naming convention follows this order: the position of the substituents, followed by the parent chain name, and concluding with the suffix "thiol." This systematic approach ensures clarity and consistency in the identification of thiol compounds.