Naming Organic Compounds
No. carbon atoms stem No. substituents of the same type Prefix
1 meth- 1 -
2 eth- 2 di-
3 prop- 3 tri-
4 but- 4 tetra-
5 pent- 5 penta-
6 hex-
7 hept-
8 oct-
9 non-
10 dec-
Type of compound Functional group prefix suffix
General formula Group
alkane -ane (-an- if there
is another suffix)
alkyl -yl
alkene -C==C- -ene (-en- if there
is another suffix)
alcohols -C—OH hydroxy- -ol
haloalkanes -C—Cl chloro-
-C—Br bromo-
-C—I iodo-
-C—F fluoro-
aldehyde -CHO formyl- -al
ketone -C(CO)C- oxo- -one
carboxylic acid -COOH -oic acid
nitrile -CN -nitrile
ester -COOC- -yl -oate
acyl chloride -COCl -oyl chloride
acid anhydride -oic anhydride
No. carbon atoms stem No. substituents of the same type Prefix
1 meth- 1 -
2 eth- 2 di-
3 prop- 3 tri-
4 but- 4 tetra-
5 pent- 5 penta-
6 hex-
7 hept-
8 oct-
9 non-
10 dec-
Type of compound Functional group prefix suffix
General formula Group
alkane -ane (-an- if there
is another suffix)
alkyl -yl
alkene -C==C- -ene (-en- if there
is another suffix)
alcohols -C—OH hydroxy- -ol
haloalkanes -C—Cl chloro-
-C—Br bromo-
-C—I iodo-
-C—F fluoro-
aldehyde -CHO formyl- -al
ketone -C(CO)C- oxo- -one
carboxylic acid -COOH -oic acid
nitrile -CN -nitrile
ester -COOC- -yl -oate
acyl chloride -COCl -oyl chloride
acid anhydride -oic anhydride
