IUPAC Nomenclature Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering IUPAC nomenclature rules, functional groups, priority, and common aromatic trivial names.

IUPAC Basic Naming Structure

Prefix + Word root + Primary suffix + Secondary suffix.

Word root

Indicates the carbon count of the parent chain (e.g., meth for 1, eth for 2, prop for 3).

Primary suffix

Indicates the saturation or unsaturation of the carbon chain (e.g., -ane, -ene, -yne).

Secondary suffix

Indicates the principal functional group of the molecule.

Prefix

Indicates substituents or non-principal functional groups.

Alkane General Formula

$$C_nH_{2n+2}$$

Alkene General Formula

$$C_nH_{2n}$$

Alkyne General Formula

$$C_nH_{2n-2}$$

Alkadiene General Formula

$$C_nH_{2n-2}$$

Alkenyne General Formula

$$C_nH_{2n-4}$$

Homologous-series

A series of compounds where consecutive members differ by a $CH_2$ group.

Alkyl Groups

Substituents derived from alkanes: methyl ($-CH_3$), ethyl ($-C_2H_5$), propyl ($-C_3H_7$), and butyl ($-C_4H_9$).

Halogen Prefixes

Fluoro ($-F$), chloro ($-Cl$), bromo ($-Br$), and iodo ($-I$).

$-COOH$ (Carboxy Group)

Prefix: carboxy-; Suffix: -oic acid.

$-CHO$ (Formyl Group)

Prefix: formyl-; Suffix: -al.

C=O (Oxo Group)

Prefix: oxo-; Suffix: -one (for ketones).

$-OH$ (Hydroxy Group)

Prefix: hydroxy-; Suffix: -ol.

$-NH_2$ (Amino Group)

Prefix: amino-; Suffix: -amine.

$-CN$ (Cyano Group)

Prefix: cyano-; Suffix: -nitrile.

$-COOR$ (Ester)

Prefix: alkoxycarbonyl-; Suffix: -oate.

$-CONH_2$ (Amine/Amide)

Prefix: carbamoyl-; Suffix: -amide.

$-COCl$ (Acid Chloride)

Prefix: chlorocarbonyl-; Suffix: -oyl chloride.

Functional Group Priority

COOH > acid derivatives > CN > CHO > CO > OH > NH_2 > C=C > C\equiv C.

Parent Chain Selection Priority

Principal functional group $\rightarrow$ maximum multiple bonds $\rightarrow$ maximum carbon atoms.

Locant Punctuation Rules

Use commas between numbers (e.g., 2,3) and hyphens between numbers and letters (e.g., 2-methyl).

Epoxy

An oxygen bridge forming a three-membered cyclic ether ring between two carbons.

N-substitution

Indicates substituents attached to a nitrogen atom using the locant N- (e.g., N-methyl-).

Toluene

Methylbenzene with the formula $C_6H_5CH_3$.

o-Xylene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene

1,2-dimethylbenzene, 1,3-dimethylbenzene, and 1,4-dimethylbenzene respectively.

Phenol

A benzene ring with a hydroxy group ($C_6H_5OH$).

Aniline

Benzenamine with the formula $C_6H_5NH_2$.

Anisole

Methoxybenzene with the formula $C_6H_5OCH_3$.

Benzaldehyde

A benzene ring with a formyl group ($C_6H_5CHO$).

Benzoic acid

A benzene ring with a carboxy group ($C_6H_5COOH$).

Styrene

Ethenylbenzene or vinylbenzene ($C_6H_5CH=CH_2$).

Cumene

Propan-2-ylbenzene with the formula $C_6H_5CH(CH_3)_2$.

Ortho (o), Meta (m), Para (p)

Locant positions for disubstituted benzenes: o = 1,2; m = 1,3; p = 1,4.