An
Introduction
to
Organic
Chemistry
81
,An Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the study of compounds
containing carbon with the exception of simple
compounds e.g. carbonates (CO32-), carbon
dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO).
Nomenclature
There are over 6 million known organic
compounds. Nomenclature is therefore very
important.
Here are some basic guidelines that should help
in the naming of the simple compounds you will
come across during this course. You will get
practice at this in your tutorials.
1) Find the longest carbon chain in the molecule.
This will give you the base of the name:
No of C atoms Name
1 meth-ane
2 eth-ane
3 prop-ane
4 but-ane
5 pent-ane
6 hex-ane
7 hept-ane
8 oct-ane
9 non-ane
10 dec-ane
82
, An Introduction to Organic Chemistry
2) Determine the principle functional group and
its position.
principal ending
functional group formula becomes
alkane C-C -ane
alkene C=C -ene
alkyne C≡C -yne
alcohol -OH -anol
aldehyde -CH=O -anal
ketone >C=O -anone
carboxylic acid -COOH -anoic acid
Position is indicated, where necessary, by
numbering the carbons in the main chain.
Position need not be indicated for alkanes, as
they have no functional group, and aldehydes
and acids, as they are terminal functional
groups. Positioning numbers are flanked by
dash signs. Multiple positions for a given
functional group are separated by commas
and indicated by the prefixes di, tri, tetra,
penta, hexa, hepta, octa , nona and deca.
3) Ancilliary functional groups are given in
alphabetical order, with their position at the
beginning of the name.
ancilliary
functional group formula prefix
methyl -CH3 methyl
ethyl -C2H5 ethyl
83
Introduction
to
Organic
Chemistry
81
,An Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the study of compounds
containing carbon with the exception of simple
compounds e.g. carbonates (CO32-), carbon
dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO).
Nomenclature
There are over 6 million known organic
compounds. Nomenclature is therefore very
important.
Here are some basic guidelines that should help
in the naming of the simple compounds you will
come across during this course. You will get
practice at this in your tutorials.
1) Find the longest carbon chain in the molecule.
This will give you the base of the name:
No of C atoms Name
1 meth-ane
2 eth-ane
3 prop-ane
4 but-ane
5 pent-ane
6 hex-ane
7 hept-ane
8 oct-ane
9 non-ane
10 dec-ane
82
, An Introduction to Organic Chemistry
2) Determine the principle functional group and
its position.
principal ending
functional group formula becomes
alkane C-C -ane
alkene C=C -ene
alkyne C≡C -yne
alcohol -OH -anol
aldehyde -CH=O -anal
ketone >C=O -anone
carboxylic acid -COOH -anoic acid
Position is indicated, where necessary, by
numbering the carbons in the main chain.
Position need not be indicated for alkanes, as
they have no functional group, and aldehydes
and acids, as they are terminal functional
groups. Positioning numbers are flanked by
dash signs. Multiple positions for a given
functional group are separated by commas
and indicated by the prefixes di, tri, tetra,
penta, hexa, hepta, octa , nona and deca.
3) Ancilliary functional groups are given in
alphabetical order, with their position at the
beginning of the name.
ancilliary
functional group formula prefix
methyl -CH3 methyl
ethyl -C2H5 ethyl
83
