Ap Chemistry Naming Organic Compounds Essay Example
Use this packet and your book to answer the questions throughout this packet.
Organic Nomenclature - Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes
Naming organic compounds can be a challenge to any chemist at any level. Historically, chemists developed names for new compounds without any systematic guidelines. In this century, the need for standardization was recognized. For simple molecules, the nomenclature system worked out by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemists (IUPAC) works well. For complex molecules, the IUPAC names are so long that no one in their right mind would use them. The net result is that a hodgepodge of IUPAC names and historic or common names are used. Any one compound may have five or six different names.
So, what we want to accomplish in this module is simply to establish the fundamentals of the IUPAC system and apply them to naming alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. These groups are hydrocarbons, compounds made of the elements carbon and hydrogen.
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Numerical Prefixes = Number of Backbone Carbon Atoms
The prefix in the name of an organic molecule indicates the number of carbon atoms found in the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in the molecule. You need to memorize the following prefixes: Prefix # C atoms meth- 1 eth- 2 prop- 3 but- 4 pent- 5 hex- 6 hept- 7 oct- 8 non- 9 dec- 10
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Alkanes = -ane ending
The alkanes are the least complex hydrocarbons. The alkane family uses the prefix for the number of carbons and an -ane ending. An alkane can be recognized by its general formula, CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms in the compound. For example, C5H12 has five carbon atoms pentane. Each member of the alkane family differs from the next by a — CH2 — group, and all the carbons are connected by single bonds.
Example 1:
Name the following compounds:
a. CH4
b. C2H6 or CH3CH3
c. C3H8 or
Organic Nomenclature - Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes
Naming organic compounds can be a challenge to any chemist at any level. Historically, chemists developed names for new compounds without any systematic guidelines. In this century, the need for standardization was recognized. For simple molecules, the nomenclature system worked out by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemists (IUPAC) works well. For complex molecules, the IUPAC names are so long that no one in their right mind would use them. The net result is that a hodgepodge of IUPAC names and historic or common names are used. Any one compound may have five or six different names.
So, what we want to accomplish in this module is simply to establish the fundamentals of the IUPAC system and apply them to naming alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. These groups are hydrocarbons, compounds made of the elements carbon and hydrogen.
________________________________________
Numerical Prefixes = Number of Backbone Carbon Atoms
The prefix in the name of an organic molecule indicates the number of carbon atoms found in the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in the molecule. You need to memorize the following prefixes: Prefix # C atoms meth- 1 eth- 2 prop- 3 but- 4 pent- 5 hex- 6 hept- 7 oct- 8 non- 9 dec- 10
________________________________________
Alkanes = -ane ending
The alkanes are the least complex hydrocarbons. The alkane family uses the prefix for the number of carbons and an -ane ending. An alkane can be recognized by its general formula, CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms in the compound. For example, C5H12 has five carbon atoms pentane. Each member of the alkane family differs from the next by a — CH2 — group, and all the carbons are connected by single bonds.
Example 1:
Name the following compounds:
a. CH4
b. C2H6 or CH3CH3
c. C3H8 or