IUPAC Carbon backbone names (1-10)
1- Meth ----- 6- Hex
2- Eth ------- 7- Hept
3- Prop ----- 8- Oct
4- But ------- 9- Non
5- Pent ------ 10- Dec
x- Alk
organic compounds
compounds which contain at least 1 hydrogen-carbon bond
Parent chain/ Carbon backbone
the longest chain of carbons connected together by covalent bonds
Functional groups & Substituents
Anything attached to C-backbone is either a functional group or a substituent
Functional groups: indicated by suffixes (eg. amine, carbonyl) & create substantial
change to properties
Substituent: indicated by prefixes (eg. akyl, halo) & create minor changes to properties
(note double/triple C bonds sometimes considered functional groups, but mostly in grey
area between the two)
Locants
Usually a number which gives the positions of the attached substituents/functional
groups (eg. propan-1-ol).
Multiple locants are separated by commas
(eg. 1,2,2-trichloro-1-fluoropentan-1-ol)
Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes
All classified as hydrocarbons as they contain only C & H
Alkanes: Distinguishing group: C-C, single bonds only (saturated) Suffix: -
ane Molecular formula: C(n)H(2n+2)
Example: butane C4H10
Alkenes:
Distinguishing group: C=C, double bond (unsaturated)
Suffix: -ene Molecular formula C(n)H(2n)
Locant: indicates double bond Eg: but-2-ene C4H8
Alkynes:
Distinguishing group: C≡C, triple bond (unsaturated)
Suffix: -yne Molecular formula C(n)H(2n-2)
Locant: indicates triple bond Eg: but-2-yne C4H6
Branched & Cyclic Hydrocarbons
Branched: a hydrocarbon with at least 1 alkyl group (alkane with 1 less H atom)
attached to the backbone indicated by alkyl prefixes (meth, eth, etc) & locants where
, necessary. The number of a particular alkyl group indicated by di, tri etc before prefix.
Alkyl group w/ double bond = Alkenyl
& Alkyl group w/ triple bond = Alkynyl eg. 4-ethenylheptane
Cyclic:
Hydrocarbon with backbone in ring shape (not chain), must lose 2 H atoms to form (eg.
cyclic alkane = CnH2n). Indicated by prefix cyclo- directly before stem eg. cyclopentane
C5H10
Halogenated Hydrocarbons/haloalkanes & Alcohols
Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Distinguishing group: Halogen atom (-X) replacing 1 H
atom
Prefix: halo- (unspecific) (eg. chloro) in alphabetical order
Locants: indicate halogen location, used when necessary
Example: 1-chlorobutane C4H9Cl
Alcohols: Distinguishing group: hydroxyl (-OH){no charge, unlike OH-}
Suffix: -ol Molecular formula C(n)H(2n+1)OH
Classification: may be primary/secondary/tertiary depending on OH position (indicated
by locant)
eg. butan-2-ol (secondary alcohol) C4H9OH
Aldehydes & Ketones
Aldehyde: Distinguishing group: carbonyl group C=O
Suffix: -al Molecular formula C(n)H(2n)O
Locant: unnecessary as carbonyl always attached to end
Example: butanal C4H8O
Ketone: Distinguishing group: carbonyl group C=O
Suffix: -one Molecular formula C(n)H(2n)O
Locant: necessary if C > 3, as carbonyl attached anywhere except for end of C-
backbone
Example: butanone C4H8O
Carboxylic acids & Esters
Carboxylic acids: Distinguishing group: carboxyl group -COOH (carbonyl + hydroxyl
attached to same carbon)
Suffix: -oic acid Molecular formula C(n)H(2n)O2
Locant: unnecessary as carboxyl always attached to end
Example: butanoic acid C3H7COOH
Ester: Distinguishing group: ester group -COOC ( reaction between carboxylic acid and
alcohol)
Name: alkyl alkynoate (alkyl from alchohol & alanoate from carboxylic acid) Locant:
usually unnecessary
Example: reaction between butanoic acid (carboxyl) & ethanol (alcohol) makes ethyl
butanoate C3H7COOC2H5
Amines & Amides
Amines: Distinguishing group: amino group -NH2
Suffix: -amine Molecular formula C(n)H(2n+1)NH2
Classification: Primary/secondary/tertiary depending on number of C atoms connected
to N atom
Locant: may be necessary, indicates amino group location
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