Name Organic Compounds Using the IUPAC Method

Organic compounds are those that contain carbon. A few types of compounds such as carbonates, simple oxides of carbon and cyanides, as well as the allotropes of carbon, are considered inorganic. There are about 10 million different organic compounds and 10,000 new ones being found or synthesized each year. But don't worry--they're fairly simple to name.

Steps

1. Learn how to name hydrocarbons. Halocarbons, organic compounds containing one or more halogens, are named using the same procedure. Take the name of the element attached (chlorine) and replace the -ine with -o (chloro). Use the same group prefixes to describe the amount. Ex: CF₃CHBrCl is named 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane.
2. Learn how to name alcohols. An alcohol is a carbon chain with a hydroxide (OH^-) attached. Name the carbon chain, using the suffix -anol. Place a number in front to indicate what carbon the hydroxide is attached to.
   Ex: CH₃CH₂CH₂(OH) is named 1-propanol.
3. Learn how to name ethers, a carbon chain bonded to an oxygen that is bonded to another carbon chain. The shorter of the two chains becomes the first part of the name (use a prefix). Then add "oxy". Then add the longest chain, prefixed with the ending -ane.
   Ex: CH₃OCH₂CH₃ is named methoxyethane.
   • The common name is often more commonly used. Name the carbon chains like attached groups. Alphabetize these and place them before the word "ether".
     Ex: CH₃OCH₂CH₃ is named ethyl methyl ether.
4. Learn how to name aldehydes. An aldehyde is a carbon chain with an oxygen double bonded to the last/first carbon. Use the appropriate prefix for carbon chain and use the suffix -anal. No position number is required.
   Ex: CH₃CH(=O) is named ethanol.
5. Learn how to name ketones. A ketone is a carbon chain with an oxygen bonded to a middle carbon. Use the suffix -anone and use position numbers past propanone.
   Ex: CH₃CH₂CH₂C(=O)CH₃ is named 2-pentanone.
6. Learn how to name carboxylic acids. A carboxylic acid is a carbon chain with an oxygen double bonded and a hydroxide bonded to the last/first carbon. Use the suffix -anoic acid. No position number is required.
   Ex: CH₃CH₂C(=O)OH is named propanoic acid.
7. Learn how to name esters. An ester is a carbon chain with an oxygen both double and single bonded to one carbon. Name the group without an oxygen (R') first. Then name the R-C(=O)O part using the suffix -anoate. However, sometimes, there is a multiple bond in the R part. In that case, use -enoate or -ynoate and specify where the multiple bond is.
   Ex: CH₃C(=O)OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ is named methyl pentanoate.
8. Learn how to name amines. An amine is a carbon chain with an NH₂ bonded to it. Use the suffix -amine and a position number if necessary.
   Ex: CH₃CHNH₂CH₃ is named 2-propanamine.
9. Learn how to name amides. An amide is a carbon chain with an NH₂ and an oxygen bonded to the last/first carbon. Use the suffix -amide (no position number required).
   Ex: CH₃C(=O)NH₂ is named ethanamide.

Tips

• Always number the carbons for naming with the functional group as the lowest possible number.
• All rules regarding attachment groups from this article apply to the various organic compounds as well.
• Your chemistry teacher may go into greater or lesser depth on this subject.

Related Articles

• Name a Hydrocarbon Chain Using the IUPAC Method
• Survive and Thrive in Your First Organic Chemistry Class
• Do Chemistry Using a TI 30x Calculator
• Pass Chemistry

Sources and Citations

• Wikipedia on IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry

See also

• Survive and Thrive in Your First Organic Chemistry Class
• Pass Organic Chemistry
• Crystallize Organic Compounds

What links here

• Crystallize Organic Compounds