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.

Illustrative background for How are esters named?Illustrative background for How are esters named? ?? "content

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
Illustrative background for Putting together ester namesIllustrative background for Putting together ester names ?? "content

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
Illustrative background for Drawing and namingIllustrative background for Drawing and naming ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for Drawing and naming 2Illustrative background for Drawing and naming 2 ?? "content

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

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

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