11.2.2

Naming Organic Compounds - Unbranched

Test yourself

Naming Organic Compounds - Unbranched

Organic compounds include alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids. They are named by chain length & functional group position.

Illustrative background for Alkanes - naming and drawingIllustrative background for Alkanes - naming and drawing ?? "content

Alkanes - naming and drawing

  • Chemistry names unbranched alkanes with the suffix "-ane".
    • Alkanes contain only single bonds between carbon atoms.
    • The first four unbranched alkanes are methane (1C), ethane (2C), propane (3C), and butane (4C).
  • Draw straight chains of carbon with hydrogen atoms bonded to fill carbon's four bonds.
  • Displayed formulae show all bonds; structural formulae use letters and dashes.
Illustrative background for Alkenes - naming and drawingIllustrative background for Alkenes - naming and drawing ?? "content

Alkenes - naming and drawing

  • Chemistry names unbranched alkenes with the suffix "-ene" to show at least one C=C double bond.
    • But-1-ene and but-2-ene each have four carbons but differ by the position of the double bond.
    • Number carbons from the end nearest the double bond.
  • Draw alkenes showing the double bond location clearly in displayed and structural formulae.
Illustrative background for Alcohols - naming and drawingIllustrative background for Alcohols - naming and drawing ?? "content

Alcohols - naming and drawing

  • Chemistry names unbranched alcohols with the suffix "-ol"
    • Number the carbon chain so the -OH group has the lowest possible number.
    • Examples include propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, butan-1-ol, and butan-2-ol.
    • Draw the -OH group attached to the correct carbon.
  • Display formulae show the hydroxyl group clearly; structural formulae indicate the -OH position using numbers.
Illustrative background for Carboxylic acids - naming and drawingIllustrative background for Carboxylic acids - naming and drawing ?? "content

Carboxylic acids - naming and drawing

  • Chemistry names unbranched carboxylic acids with the suffix "-oic acid."
    • Carboxylic acids contain the -COOH group at carbon 1.
    • Examples with up to four carbons: methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, propanoic acid, and butanoic acid.
  • Draw the -COOH group at the end of the carbon chain.
Illustrative background for Summary and practiceIllustrative background for Summary and practice ?? "content

Summary and practice

  • Chemistry uses specific suffixes to name unbranched organic compounds: -ane -ene -ol -oic acid
  • Number carbon atoms from the end, giving functional groups the lowest number.
  • Practice drawing both structural and displayed formulae for all types covered.
  • Naming skills help understand organic compound properties and reactions.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium