Naming organic compounds
Vocabulary
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| prefix | 前缀 | qián zhuì |
| suffix | 后缀 | hòu zhuì |
| alkane | 烷烃 | wán tīng |
| alkene | 烯烃 | xī tīng |
| alcohol | 醇 | chún |
Cracking the code of a name
- With millions of carbon compounds, chemists need a systematic way to name them.
- The name tells you the chain length and the family.
Explore
Organic naming route
Follow the route from structure to systematic name.
Practice
How many carbon atoms does the prefix "prop-" indicate?
meth-(1), eth-(2), prop-(3), but-(4).
Practice
How many carbon atoms are in butane?
but- means 4 carbons.
The prefix 前缀 = chain length
- The first part of the name shows how many carbon atoms: meth- (1), eth- (2), prop- (3), but- (4).
- So "propane" has 3 carbons, "butene" has 4.
A saturated compound has single C-C bonds; an unsaturated one has a C=C double bond
Practice
The suffix "-ol" tells you the compound is a(n):
-ol means alcohol.
Practice
The suffix "-ene" tells you the compound is an ______.
-ene means alkene.
The suffix 后缀 = family
- The ending shows the family: -ane (alkane 烷烃), -ene (alkene 烯烃), -ol (alcohol 醇), -oic acid (carboxylic acid).
- So "ethanol" is a 2-carbon alcohol.
Practice
Ethanol contains how many carbon atoms?
eth- = 2 carbons; -ol = alcohol.
Putting it together
- Combine the prefix and suffix: prop + ene = propene (3-carbon alkene).
- meth + anol = methanol (1-carbon alcohol).
Example
Worked example. What is "butanol"? But- means 4 carbons; -ol means an alcohol. So butanol is a 4-carbon alcohol. The name decodes the structure.
You've got it
Key idea
- the prefix gives the carbon count: meth-(1), eth-(2), prop-(3), but-(4)
- the suffix gives the family: -ane, -ene, -ol, -oic acid
- combine them to name (and decode) any compound (e.g. propene = 3-carbon alkene)