Naming carbon compounds

The idea

Name the chain by its number of carbon atoms, add a prefix or suffix for any functional group, drop the chain's final 'e' before a suffix starting with a vowel, and change 'ane' to 'ene' or 'yne' when unsaturated.

A name with parts

The name propanol tells us two things: the number of carbon atoms and the functional group. The name has a first part and an ending.

How many carbon atoms are in a compound named propanol?

• Two
• Three
• Four

Name it in steps

Press Next step.

Four steps

Chain name first, then the group. The only changes to the chain name are dropping an 'e' before a vowel suffix, and 'ane' becoming 'ene' or 'yne'.

Name the chain by its number of carbon atoms, add a prefix or suffix for any functional group, drop the chain's final 'e' before a suffix starting with a vowel, and change 'ane' to 'ene' or 'yne' when unsaturated.

• Chain | Group | Name
• 3 carbons | none | propane
• 3 carbons | ketone, suffix one | propanone
• 3 carbons | double bond | propene
• 3 carbons | triple bond | propyne

Notes

Name the chain by its number of carbon atoms, add a prefix or suffix for any functional group, drop the final 'e' before a suffix starting with a vowel, and change 'ane' to 'ene' or 'yne' when unsaturated.

Check yourself

What is the name of a three-carbon chain with a ketone group, suffix -one?

What is the name of a three-carbon chain with a triple bond?

What is the name of an alcohol with four carbon atoms?

In 'propane − e + one', which letter is deleted?

• Propaneone. The final 'e' of propane is deleted before a suffix that begins with a vowel, so propan + one.
• Propanone — correct. Yes!
• Propene. Propene is the three-carbon chain with a double bond, not a ketone.
• Propene. Propene has a double bond. A triple bond changes 'ane' to 'yne'.
• Propane. Propane has only single bonds.
• Propyne — correct. Yes!
• Butanol — correct. Yes!
• Butaneol. The final 'e' is deleted before a suffix that begins with a vowel, and -ol begins with o.
• Butene. Butene is a four-carbon chain with a double bond, not an alcohol.
• The first letter p. Only the final 'e' of the chain name is deleted.
• The final e — correct. Yes!
• The letter n. Only the final 'e' of the chain name is deleted. The n stays: propan + one.