nomenclature of organic chemicals

alkane

carbon atoms connected via all single bonds (saturated hydrocarbon).

suffix ‘-ane’, e.g. butane

alkene

carbon atoms connected via at least one double bond (unsaturated hydrocarbon) .

for molecules larger than propane, a number must be used to indicate the position of the double bond.

suffix ‘-ene’, e.g. ‘but-1-ene’ or ‘1-butene’

alkyne

carbon atoms connected via at least one triple bond (unsaturated hydrocarbon) .

for molecules larger than propane, a number must be used to indicate the position of the triple bond.

suffix ‘-yne’, e.g. ‘but-1-yne’ or ‘1-butyne’

alcohol

a hydroxyl functional group (OH) attached to a carbon chain.

for molecules larger than ethane, a number must be used to indicate the position of the OH group.

suffix ‘-ol’, e.g. ‘1-butanol’ or ‘butan-1-ol’

primary: C atom OH group is bonded to one other carbon, e.g. ‘1-butanol’

secondary: C atom OH group is bonded to two other carbons, e.g. ‘2-butanol’

tertiary: C atom OH group is bonded to three other carbons, e.g. ‘2-3dimthyl-butan-1-ol’

aldehyde

carbonyl (double bonded O) group connected to a carbon bonded to a hydrogen.

number to indicated position of carbonyl group.

suffix ‘-al’, e.g. butanal

ketone

carbonyl (double bonded O) group connected to a carbon NOT bonded to a hydrogen.

number to indicate position

suffix ‘-one’, e.g. ‘butan-2-one’ or ‘2-butanone’

carboxylic acid

carbonyl and hydroxyl group (double bonded O and OH) on 1 carbon

number to indicate position

suffix ‘-oic acid’

amine

nitrogen attached to a carbon chain

amide

nitrogen attached to a carbon which is double bonded to an oxygen atom

halogenated organic compounds

halogens replacing a hydrogen along a carbon chain