NEET 2025 IUPAC Nomenclature General Introduction

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of organic chemistry history, structural representation, carbon degree, hybridization, and IUPAC nomenclature rules.

Vital Force Theory

A notion proposed by the Swedish chemist Berzilius suggesting that a specific force was responsible for the formation of organic compounds.

F. Wohler (1828)

The chemist who rejected the Vital Force Theory by synthesizing urea, an organic compound, from the inorganic compound ammonium cyanate ($NH_4CNO$).

Kolbe (1845)

The scientist who demonstrated that organic compounds could be synthesized from inorganic sources in a laboratory through the pioneering synthesis of acetic acid.

Bond Line Structure

A representation where carbon-carbon ($C-C$) bonds are in a zig-zag pattern, heteroatoms are represented, and double/triple bonds are shown with multiple lines.

Tetravalence of Carbon

The property of carbon forming four covalent bonds, explained by its electronic configuration and the hybridization of $s$ and $p$ orbitals.

Hybrid orbital electronegativity

Electronegativity increases with s-character; the order is $sp$ ($50\%$ $s$ character) > $sp^2$ > $sp^3$.

3D Solid Wedge ($\blacktriangle$)

Represents a bond coming out of the plane towards the observer in organic compound representations.

3D Dashed Wedge

Represents a bond going behind the plane, away from the observer in organic compound representations.

Degree of Carbon

The number of carbon atoms directly attached to a specific carbon atom (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary).

Super Primary Carbon

Terminology used for structures like methanoic acid ($HCOOH$) or dimethyl ether ($CH_3-O-CH_3$).

Degree of Hydrogen

Refers to the classification of a hydrogen atom based on the type of carbon atom to which it is bonded.

Degree of Alcohols

Determined by the degree of the carbon atom to which the $-OH$ group is attached.

Degree of Halogens

Determined by the degree of the carbon atom where the $X$ (halogen) group is present.

Degree of Amine

Determined by the number of carbon atoms directly connected to the nitrogen ($N$) atom.

Degree of Unsaturation (D.U.)

Also known as Index of Hydrogen Deficiency (I.H.D.) or Double Bond Equivalent (D.B.E.), it is the number of $H_2$ molecules required to convert a molecule into an open-chain saturated compound.

Functional Group

An atom or group of atoms joined in a specific manner responsible for the characteristic chemical properties of organic compounds.

Homologous Series

A group of organic compounds with the same functional group where members differ from each other by a $CH_2$ group and a difference in molecular mass.

IUPAC Naming Sequence

The standard naming format: Prefix-2 + Prefix-1 + Word Root + Suffix-1 + Suffix-2.

IUPAC Priority Rule

The hierarchy for naming: Principal Functional Group (PFG) > Multiple bonds > Number of $C$ atoms > Maximum number of Substituents > Lowest locant > alphabetical order.

Carboxylic Acid IUPAC Suffix-2

Uses the suffix 'oic acid' (or 'carboxylic acid' as a special suffix for rings) and the prefix 'carboxy'.

Aldehyde IUPAC Suffix-2

Uses the suffix 'al' (or 'carbaldehyde' as a special suffix for rings) and prefixes 'aldo' or 'formyl'.

Nitrile IUPAC Suffix-2

Uses the suffix 'nitrile' (or 'carbonitrile' as a special suffix for rings) and the prefix 'cyano'.

Catechol

The common name for the aromatic compound Benzene-1,2-diol.

Neopentyl chloride

A primary ($1^\circ$) halide with the formula $C(CH_3)_3CH_2Cl$.