Rules of naming alkanes
1. Identify the longest unbroken carbon chain = main chain.
2. Count the number of carbon atoms and name it = parent name.
3. Identify and name side chains attached to the main chain = identify substituent group = alkyl group.
4. Give the smallest location number to the substituent groups.
5. The location of the carbon to which the group is attached is placed in front of the substituent group name and separated from the name by a hyphen.
6. The names of substituents with location number are written in front of the parent name in alphabetical order.
7. If there are a number of identical substituent groups, Greek prefixes such as di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- are used. These prefix names (dimethyl-, triethyl-) do not determine alphabetical order.