Alkane Nomenclature

1 carbon

methane

2 carbons

ethane

3 carbons

propane

4 carbons

butane

5 carbons

pentane

6 carbons

hexane

7 carbons

heptane

8 carbons

octane

9 carbons

nonane

10 carbons

decane

straight chain substituents

use carbon chain prefix but add “-yl” at the end instead of “ane” (i.e. ethyl instead of ethane)

naming when multiple of the same substituents are present

naming cyclic molecules by themselves

based on number of carbons in the ring-

naming cyclic molecules with substituents shorter than the cyclic ring

treat ring as main carbon chain

naming cyclic compounds when a carbon chain is longer than the cyclic compound

treat the cyclic structure as a substituent

cis and trans classification

• ONLY FOR DISUBSTITUTED CYCLIC ALKANES

• if the 2 substituents are on the same plane (wedge or dash) it’s cis

• if the 2 substituents are on different planes (wedge and dash) it’s trans

finding the longest carbon chain for naming halides

has to be the longest carbon chain that has the halide on it

how do we treat halogens

with kindness (like a substituent)

F

fluoro

Cl

chloro

Br

Bromo

I

Iodo

Primary carbon

CH3

Secondary Carbon

CH2

Tertiary Carbon

CH

Defining primary/secondary/tertiary carbon

Number of non-H groups bonded to the carbon

Alkyl Halide Classification

Number of groups on the alpha carbon