Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons, Functional Groups, and Naming

Methane

Alkane with 1 carbon

Ethane

Alkane with 2 carbons

Propane

Alkane with 3 carbons

Butane

Alkane with 4 carbons

Pentane

Alkane with 5 carbons

Hexane

Alkane with 6 carbons

Heptane

Alkane with 7 carbons

Octane

Alkane with 8 carbons

Methyl

Branch containing 1 carbon (-CH₃)

Ethyl

Branch containing 2 carbons (-CH₂CH₃)

Propyl

Branch containing 3 carbons

-ane

Indicates carbon-carbon single bonds in an alkane

-ene

Indicates a carbon-carbon double bond

-yne

Indicates a carbon-carbon triple bond

Saturated hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbon with only carbon-carbon single bonds

Unsaturated hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbon containing a carbon-carbon double or triple bond

Alcohol

Contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon

Ether

Contains an oxygen between two carbon groups (R-O-R′)

Aldehyde

Contains a terminal carbonyl group (-CHO)

Ketone

Contains a carbonyl group (C=O) within a carbon chain

Carboxylic acid

Contains a carboxyl group (-COOH)

Ester

Contains a -COO- linkage between carbon groups

Amine

Contains nitrogen bonded to carbon and/or hydrogen; a common example is -NH₂

Amide

Contains a carbonyl attached to nitrogen (-CONH₂ or a related group)

Carbonyl group

Carbon double-bonded to oxygen (C=O)

Hydroxyl group

-OH

Carboxyl group

-COOH

Amino group

-NH₂

Methyl group

-CH₃

CH₃CH₂OH

Alcohol

CH₃OCH₃

Ether

CH₃CHO

Aldehyde

CH₃COCH₃

Ketone

CH₃COOH

Carboxylic acid

CH₃COOCH₂CH₃

Ester

CH₃CH₂NH₂

Amine