Naming Fundamentals of Organic Molecules

Study Notes

Organic Molecules

Organic molecules are based on a carbon backbone.
The most basic organic molecules are alkanes, composed of a straight chain of hydrogen and carbon atoms covalently linked by single bonds.

Alkanes

The first 4 alkanes have unique names: methane, ethane, propane, and butane.
The names of subsequent alkanes follow a common pattern, with a suffix indicating the number of carbon atoms: pentane (5 carbon), hexane (6 carbon), heptane (7 carbon), and so on.

Alkenes and Alkynes

Alkenes and alkynes are formed by adding a double or triple bond to an alkane, respectively.
The suffix "-ane" changes to "-ene" or "-yne" to indicate the type of bond.

Naming Organic Molecules

The basic steps of naming organic molecules are: 1) identify the parent chain, 2) identify the substituents/functional groups, and 3) numbering of carbon atoms.
The parent chain is the longest chain of carbon atoms.
To identify the parent chain, start at one free end and try to include as many carbons as possible.
Substituents/functional groups are identified from the longest carbon chain, with some having priority in their naming.
The most common substituents are alkyl function groups, which have prefixes similar to their alkane counterparts but with a suffix of "-yl".
Carbon chain numbering is done to ensure the first substituent on the chain comes on the lowest possible numbered carbon.

Correct Numbering

The correct numbering of the carbon chain ensures the first substituent comes on a lower numbered carbon.
This is important for correctly naming the molecule.

Description

Learn the basics of naming organic molecules, starting with a definition of what organic molecules are and focusing on alkanes. Understand the carbon backbone structure and common bonding patterns in organic chemistry.