Chemical compound names

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How do you decide how to write out a chemical compound name? In a project a coworker is doing it is written out H2O and in another section it is written OH2. Is there a particular order to what chemical comes first? Is it by group?

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I have never seen water written out as OH₂. In organic chemistry (and in The Merck Index) the order is always C, H, O. For example, glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆. My only guess is that there were two alcohol groups which were listed as (OH)₂ which would describe a protonated carboxy group (IIRC, organic was so long ago).

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I think for the empirical formula H is before O, but if it's written structurally I think it can be oriented any way the author wants if it illustrates a mechanism better.

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I think that hits the nail on the head. You are given much more lee way when relating structural relationships.