There are several ways to name the alkylthiols:
* The suffix -thiol is added to the name of the alkane. This method is nearly identical to naming an alcohol and is used by the IUPAC, e.g. CHSH would be methanethiol.
* The word mercaptan replaces alcohol in the name of the equivalent alcohol compound. Example: CHSH would be methyl mercaptan, just as CHOH is called methyl alcohol.
* The term sulfhydryl- or mercapto- is used as a prefix, e.g. mercaptopurine.