Rucete ✏ Chemistry In a Nutshell
How to name Organic Compounds
The name of an organic compound consists of these in the simplest terms.
Prefix : It indicates how many carbon atoms there are.
Suffix : It indicates the functional group that is present in the molecule.
Prefix
- Chart
The same prefixes are used for naming all members of the homologous series.
For example
Number of carbon atom chain l formula of alkyl group l Name of alkyl group
1 l CH₃- l methyl
2 l CH₃CH₂- l ethyl
3 l CH₃CH₂CH₂- l propyl
4 l CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂- l butyl
Suffix
Two main functional group
Hydrocarbons (C and H only)
-ane
C-C
⋆ Carbon-carbon single bond
⋆ Tetrahedral, 109°
⋆ Alkane l CnH2n+2 e.g CH3CH2CH3 Propane
⋆ Cyclic alkane l CnH2n
e.g. Cyclobutane
-ene
⋆ Alkene l CnH2n e.g. H2C(=)CHCH3 Propene
⋆ Cyclic alkene l CnH2n-2
e.g. Cyclopropene
-yne
C≡C
⋆ Carbon-carbon triple bond
⋆ Linear, 180°
⋆ Alkyne l CnH2n-2 e.g. HC(≡)CH3
⋆ Cyclic alkyne l CnH2n-4 e.g. cyclopentyne
Functional group (which has R or R’ that represents an alkyl group.)
Hydroxyl group
-HO
⋆ Suffix for naming : ol / Side group naming: hydroxy
⋆ Series: Alcohol
⋆ CnH2n+2O
⋆ Constitutional formula : ROH
⋆ E.g. CH3OH
Ether group
-O-
⋆ Suffix for naming: ether / Side group : oxy
⋆ Series : Ether
⋆ CnH2n+2O
⋆ Consitutional formula : ROR’
⋆ e.g. CH3OC2H5
Amino group
-NH2
⋆ -Amine
⋆ Series : Amine
⋆ General formula : CnH2n+3N
⋆ E.g. CH3NH2
Aldehyde Group
⋆ -al
⋆ Series : Aldehyde
⋆ General formula: CnH2nO
⋆ e.g. CH3CHO
Ketone Group
⋆ -one / Side group: oxo
⋆ Series: Ketone
⋆ General formula: CnH2nO
⋆ e.g. CH3COOH3
Carboxly Grouop
⋆ -COOH
⋆ -oic acid
⋆ Series: Carboxylic acid
⋆ General Formula: CnH2nO2
⋆ e.g. CH3COOH
Ester group
⋆ -COOR'
⋆ -yl, -oate
⋆ Series: ester
⋆ CnH2nO2
⋆ E.g. CH3COOCH3
There are many other groups such as amide group, acid chloride group.