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Organic Notes
Name General Formula Characteristic Example
Alkane CnH2n+2 single covalent bonds only

Methane: CH4

Alkene CnH2n 1 double bond

but-2-ene: C4H8

Alkyne CnH2n-2 1 triple bond

prop-1-yne: C3H4

Cycloalkane CnH2n ring structure, single bonds

cyclohexane: C6H12

Cycloalkene CnH2n-2 ring structure 1 double bonds

cyclobutene: C4H6

Alkadiene CnH2n-2 two double bonds

 buta-1,3-diene: C4H6

Aromatic  CnH2n-6 benzene ring

 

toluene (1-methylbenzene).

Ether R-O-R' Oxygen single bonded in chain

IUPAC Name: methoxyethane

Alcohol R-OH Hydroxyl in chain.

Hexane-1,2-diol

Aldehyde aldehyde double bonded oxygen always at the end of chain

Ketone ketone double bonded oxygen in the chain

methylethylketone

butan-2-one

Carboxyllic acids

 O

  ‖

RCOH

 
double bonded oxygen and an OH group making a carboxyl. Always at the end.

acetic acid (IUPAC: ethanoic acid)

Esters

 O

  ‖

RCOR'

 

 

single bonded and double bonded oxygens separating two chains

ethyl acetate (IUPAC: ethyl ethanoate)

 

Remember we begin naming organic compounds by counting carbons in the longest continuous chain.

Prefixes

meth -- 1 Carbon
eth -- 2 Carbons
prop -- 3 Carbons
but -- 4 Carbons
pent -- 5 Carbons
hex -- 6 Carbons
hept -- 7 Carbons
oct -- 8 Carbons
non -- 9 Carbons
dec -- 10 Carbons

Great link worth the time reading: If you lose your notes go here