Naming Organic Compounds

Flashcards covering key concepts and definitions related to the naming of organic compounds, including common names, functional groups, and IUPAC naming conventions.

Methanol

Common name for Methyl alcohol (CH3OH).

Acetic Acid

Common name for Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH), commonly referred to as vinegar.

Urea

Common name for the compound NH2CONH2, obtained from urine.

Oxalic Acid

Common name for the compound HOOC-COOH, obtained from oxalis plants.

Formic Acid

Common name for HCOOH, derived from the Latin word for ant (formica).

Lactic Acid

Common name for H3C-CH(OH)-COOH, obtained from sour milk.

Butyric Acid

Common name for CH3CH2CH2COOH, obtained from butter.

Caproic Acid

Common name for CH2(CH2)4COOH, obtained from goats.

Functional Group

An atom or group of atoms within a molecule that is responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of that molecule.

Primary Suffix

Always added to the root word to determine the saturation of the compound.

Secondary Suffix

Added to the primary suffix to indicate the nature of the functional group present in the compound.

IUPAC Naming System

Systematic method established by IUPAC for naming organic compounds to create unambiguous names.

Parent Chain

The longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in a compound, determining its base name.

Locant

A number assigned in the name of a compound to indicate the position of a substituent.

Alkyl Group

A substituent derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom.

Alcohol

A functional group characterized by an -OH (hydroxyl) group; suffix -ol.

Aldehyde

A functional group characterized by a carbonyl group at the end of a carbon chain; suffix -al.

Ketone

A functional group characterized by a carbonyl group within a carbon chain; suffix -one.

Carboxylic Acid

A functional group characterized by a -COOH group; suffix -oic acid.

Amine

A functional group containing a nitrogen atom; suffix -amine.

Ester

A functional group formed from the reaction of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid; suffix -oate.

Nitrile

A functional group containing a carbon-nitrogen triple bond; suffix -nitrile.

Thiol

A compound containing a sulfur-hydrogen bond; suffix -thiol.

Amide

A functional group containing a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom; suffix -amide.