Carbon and Hydrogen Naming

Organic Chemistry

Is the study of compounds that contain carbon

Carbon in Organic Chemistry

is important because of its unmatched chemical diversity. It can form strong bonds with itself and other elements, and it makes four covalent bonds.

C–C Bonding

Carbon atoms bond strongly with other carbon atoms, allowing long chains or ring structures to form.

C–X Bonding

Carbon atoms bond well with atoms of other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Covalent Bonds

Chemical bonds where atoms share electron pairs. Carbon forms four of these, which adds to its bonding flexibility.

Molecular Formula

Shows the exact number of atoms of each element in a molecule. Example: C₃H₈

Condensed Structural Formula

A simplified way to write molecules where atoms are grouped and bonds are implied. Example: CH₃CH₂CH₃

Skeletal Formula

Shows all atoms and bonds explicitly; used to visualize the full structure of the molecule.

Skeletal Formula (Line-Angle Structure)

Represents carbon chains as zigzag lines. Each corner or end point is a carbon atom, and hydrogen atoms are usually not shown.

Hydrocarbons

Organic compounds made up of only carbon and hydrogen.

Alkanes (plAin and saturAted) CnH2n+2

Hydrocarbons with only single bonds between carbon atoms. They are saturated hydrocarbons.

Alkenes (doublE bond) C2H2n

Hydrocarbons that contain at least one double bond between carbon atoms. They are unsaturated.

Alkynes

Hydrocarbons that contain at least one triple bond between carbon atoms. Also unsaturated.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain benzene rings or similar ring structures with alternating double bonds (delocalized electrons).

Alkanes

Also called saturated hydrocarbons — they contain only single covalent bonds between carbon atoms.

Straight-Chain Alkanes (C1–C12)

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The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry - IUPAC Nomenclature (Alkanes)

A systematic way to name organic compounds.

1. Find the longest carbon chain → parent name

2. Add prefixes for branches/substituents

3. Use numbers to indicate positions

Substituent

A group of atoms (usually an alkyl group) that replaces a hydrogen on the carbon chain.

The suffix changes from -ane → -yl

Example: Propane → Propyl

Alkyl Group

A side-chain formed by removing one H from an alkane.

Examples:

• –CH₃ → methyl

• –CH₂CH₃ → ethyl

“-YL” = “you lost one hydrogen”

Naming Substituents (Steps)

1. Identify the longest chain

2. Number the chain from the end nearest a substituent

3. Name and number each substituent

4. Arrange names in alphabetical order
   🧠 Hook: “L-C-N-A” = Longest, Closest, Number, Alphabetize

Example: 3-Methylpentane

• Longest chain: Pentane (5C)

• Methyl group on carbon 3

• Final name: 3-methylpentane

🧠 Name format: position-substituent+parent chain

Substituent Names (1–5 Carbons)

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Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Organic compounds that contain at least one double or triple bond between carbon atoms — not fully “saturated” with hydrogen.