Nomenclature of Organic Compounds and Isomerism

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the IUPAC nomenclature of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, various functional groups, and the different types of structural isomerism in organic chemistry.

Organic chemistry

The specific branch of chemistry that deals with the study of the structure, nomenclature, and characteristics of carbon compounds.

Alkyl group

A group obtained when a hydrogen atom is removed from a carbon atom in a saturated hydrocarbon, named by adding ‘yl’ to the word root of the corresponding alkane.

Methyl group

The alkyl group ($-CH_3$) obtained when a hydrogen atom is removed from a methane molecule.

IUPAC naming rule (numerals and alphabets)

A hyphen ($-$-) is used to separate numerals and alphabets, while commas are used to separate position numbers.

IUPAC naming rule for identical branches

Prefixes like di (two), tri (three), or tetra (four) are used to indicate the number of identical branches present in a carbon chain.

Unsaturated hydrocarbon nomenclature (Alkenes)

Named using the pattern: Word root + hyphen + position of double bond + hyphen + suffix ($\text{ene}$).

Unsaturated hydrocarbon nomenclature (Alkynes)

Named using the pattern: Word root + hyphen + position of triple bond + hyphen + suffix ($\text{yne}$).

Functional group

An atom or group of atoms, bonded to carbon in an organic compound, that determines the distinctive chemical and physical properties of that compound.

Alcohols

Aliphatic hydrocarbons in which a hydroxyl group ($-OH$) is attached as a functional group, named by replacing the ‘e’ in the corresponding alkane with ‘ol’ ($\text{Alkane} - \text{e} + \text{ol} \rightarrow \text{Alkanol}$).

Carboxylic acids

Compounds containing the carboxyl functional group ($-COOH$), named by replacing the last letter ‘e’ of the corresponding alkane with ‘oic acid’ ($\text{Alkane} - \text{e} + \text{oic acid} \rightarrow \text{Alkanoic acid}$).

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

The sodium salt of glutamic acid, known by the trade name Aginomoto, which is used as a taste enhancer in food.

Aldehydes

Compounds with the $-CHO$ functional group, named by replacing the last letter ‘e’ in the name of the corresponding alkane with ‘al’ ($\text{Alkane} - \text{e} + \text{al} \rightarrow \text{Alkanal}$).

Fatty acids

Saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acids with long aliphatic chains, such as palmitic acid ($16$ carbon atoms) and stearic acid ($18$ carbon atoms).

Ketones

Compounds with a keto group ($C=O$) as the functional group, named by replacing the ‘e’ of the corresponding alkane with ‘one’ ($\text{Alkane} - \text{e} + \text{one} \rightarrow \text{Alkanone}$).

Halo compounds

Organic compounds formed when one or more hydrogen atoms in a hydrocarbon are replaced with halogen atoms like fluoro ($-F$), chloro ($-Cl$), bromo ($-Br$), or iodo ($-I$).

Ethers

Compounds containing an alkoxy group ($-O-R$) where the shorter alkyl group is named as the alkoxy part and the longer is considered the alkane part (alkoxyalkane).

Phenol

A compound ($C_6H_5-OH$) obtained when a hydrogen atom in benzene is replaced with a hydroxyl ($-OH$) group.

Isomers

Compounds having the same molecular formula but different chemical and physical properties.

Chain Isomerism

A type of isomerism where compounds have the same molecular formula but differ in the structures of their carbon chain.

Position Isomerism

A type of isomerism where compounds have the same molecular formula and functional group but differ in the position of the functional group.

Functional Isomerism

A type of isomerism where compounds have the same molecular formula but different functional groups (example: Ethanol and Methoxymethane).

Metamerism

Isomerism exhibited by compounds with the same molecular formula but different alkyl groups attached to either side of a bivalent functional group, such as $-O-$ or $C=O$.