Organic Chemistry Study
Sheet
1 carbon
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Alkanes - “Saturated Hydrocarbons”
 All end in -ane.
 Contain all single bonds.
Alkenes - “Unsaturated Hydrocarbons”
 All end in -ene.
 Contain at least one double bond, maybe more.
Alkynes - “Unsaturated Hydrocarbons”
 All end in -yne.
 Contain at least one triple bond, maybe more.
MethEthPropButPentHexHeptOctNonDec-
General Naming Rules for the above 3:
1. Name the parent compound by finding the LONGEST chain of carbons (See chart for prefixes).
2. Name the groups attached to the chain by adding -yl to the end of our prefixes. (i.e. methyl, ethyl...)
3. Say how many groups there are (di-, tri-)
4. Tell which smallest number carbon the “alkyl” groups are on.
Alkyl Halides
 A halogen atom replaces one of the
Ketones
hydrogens (F, Cl, Br, or I)
O
 All end in -anone
 Prefixes go before the name of the
parent chain: fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, or
 Contain the carbonyl group: R C R’
iodo-.
 R and R’ are the parent carbon chain
Alcohols
(including the middle carbon under the
 All end in -anol.
double-bond O)
 Contain
the
hydroxyl R OH
Ethers
group:
 The alkyl groups attached to the oxygen
 R group is the parent carbon chain.
link are named in alphabetical order and
Carboxylic Acids
O
followed by the word ether.
 All end in -anoic acid
 Contain the ether group: R–O–R
 Contain
the
carboxyl R C OH
group:
O
Esters
 R group is the parent carbon chain
 Contain the ester group: R C O–R
(including the carbon under the double All end in –anoate
bond O)
 Name the alkyl group single bonded to
Aldehydes
O
the oxygen, then the alkyl group that is
 All end in -anal.
attached to the double-bonded carbon
 Contain the hydroxyl group: R H
to the oxygen; the end is –anoate.
 R group is the parent carbon chain.
General Naming Rules for the above 7 (except ethers/esters):
1. Name the parent compound by finding the LONGEST chain of carbons (See above chart for prefixes).
2. Number the carbons so you can determine how to number (with the lowest possible number) where the Alkyl
halide/hydroxyl/carbonyl group is (Carboxyl and Aldehyde are ALWAYS on the end, so no number needed for that
one only).
Butanal
Ethylmethyl ether
Examples:
Butanol
Ethyl methanoate