11.2.4

Naming Structural Formulae

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Naming Structural Formulae

Esters are named by combining the alcohol part with the carboxylic acid part.

How are esters named?

How are esters named?

  • The name of an ester comes from two parts:
  • The alcohol part gives the –yl ending.
    • Ethanol → ethyl
    • Methanol → methyl
    • Butanol → butyl
  • The carboxylic acid part gives the –oate ending.
    • Ethanoic acid → ethanoate
    • Methanoic acid → methanoate
    • Butanoic acid → butanoate
Putting together ester names

Putting together ester names

  • To complete naming an ester, put both the alcohol and acid parts together.
  • Example 1: Ethyl ethanoate
    • Ethanol → ethyl
    • Ethanoic acid → ethanoate
  • Example 2: Propyl butanoate
    • Propanol → propyl
    • Butanoic acid → butanoate
Drawing and naming

Drawing and naming

  • A displayed formula shows all atoms and bonds.
  • In esters:
    • The C=O group (carbonyl) is bonded to an –O–R group.
  • Example:
    • The picture shows the structure CH3​COOCH2​CH3​.
    • This is ethyl ethanoate.
Drawing and naming 2

Drawing and naming 2

  • To name an ester from its formula:
    • Identify the acid part (the C=O group)
    • Count the carbons in this part to get the '-oate' name.
    • Identify the alcohol part (the single-bonded oxygen atom).
    • Count the carbons in this part to get the '-yl' name.
  • To draw an ester from its name:
    • Draw the acid part based on the '-oate' name.
    • Draw the alcohol part based on the '-yl' name.
  • Connect both the alcohol and acid parts.
Jump to other topics
1

States of Matter

2

Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3

Stoichometry

4

Electrochemistry

5

Chemical Energetics

6

Chemical Reactions

7

Acids, Bases & Salts

8

The Periodic Table

9

Metals

10

Chemistry of the Environment

11

Organic Chemistry

11.1

Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2

Naming Organic Compounds

11.3

Fuels

11.4

Alkanes

11.5

Alkenes

11.6

Alcohols

11.7

Carboxylic Acids

11.8

Polymers

12

Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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