Nomenclature Exercises: Simple Formulas

This page presents a series of exercises focused on naming simple organic compounds, particularly alkanes with various branching patterns. The exercises are designed to reinforce understanding of IUPAC-Nomenklatur rules for naming organic compounds.

The page includes 17 structural formulas (A1 to A17) of increasing complexity, along with their correct IUPAC names. Some key examples include:

Example:

• A1: H3C-CH2-CH3 (Propane)
• A4: H3C-CH(CH3)-CH3 (2-Methylpropane)
• A8: H3C-C(CH3)2-CH3 (2,2-Dimethylpropane)
• A14: H3C-CH(CH3)-CH(CH3)-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH2-CH3 (2,3,4-Trimethylhexane)

The exercises progress from simple, unbranched alkanes to more complex structures with multiple methyl substituents.

Highlight: These exercises help students practice identifying the longest carbon chain, numbering carbons correctly, and naming substituents according to IUPAC rules.

Vocabulary: Substituents are groups attached to the main carbon chain, such as methyl (-CH3) or ethyl (-CH2CH3) groups.

Introduction to Organic Compound Nomenclature

This page introduces the basics of naming organic compounds, focusing on alkanes. It provides a list of the first ten alkanes in the homologous series from methane to decane along with their molecular formulas. The page also includes structural formulas for several alkanes to illustrate their bonding patterns.

Vocabulary: Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with single bonds between carbon atoms.

The page outlines the key steps for naming branched alkanes:

1. Find and name the longest carbon chain
2. Identify side chains (changing -ane to -yl)
3. Determine how many of each side chain (di-, tri-, etc.)
4. Number the longest chain to give side chains the lowest possible numbers
5. List side chains alphabetically with their position numbers

Example: 4,6-Diethyl-2,6-dimethyloctane is given as an example of a complex alkane name.

The page concludes by mentioning alkenes (double bonds) and alkynes (triple bonds) as other hydrocarbon types.

Highlight: Understanding alkane nomenclature is fundamental for naming more complex organic compounds.

Aldehydes and Ketones

This page covers the nomenclature and structural characteristics of aldehydes and ketones, two important classes of organic compounds containing a carbonyl group (C=O).

Aldehydes:

• The longest carbon chain is identified and named
• The suffix -al replaces -ane in the name
• Aldehydes always have a double-bonded oxygen at the end of the carbon chain

Example: Methanal, Ethanal, Propanal, Butanal

Ketones:

• The longest carbon chain is identified and named
• The suffix -one replaces -ane in the name
• Ketones have a double-bonded oxygen within the carbon chain
• Ketones only exist from propanone onwards (minimum 3 carbons)

Example: Propanone, Butan-2-one, Pentan-3-one, Cyclopentanone

Highlight: The key difference between aldehydes and ketones is the position of the carbonyl group - at the end for aldehydes and within the chain for ketones.

Vocabulary: The carbonyl group (C=O) is the defining feature of both aldehydes and ketones.