Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the term given to the naming of compounds. Chemists use specific rules and "conventions" to name different.
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We can see that it is a 5 carbon single chain so it is a pentane. Since carboxylic acid has a higher priority than ketones, we start counting at the carboxylic acid. We know that it needs to be carbon number one it always starts at carbon number one , so we don't need to identify it has carbon one.

But we do need to identify where the ketone is -- carbon number 4. Also since carboxylic acid has a higher priority we use the suffix for it -oic acid and the prefix for the ketone oxo-. So putting it all together the name is: Chemical nomenclature is a method to name chemicals which will tell us what the structure of the chemical is. In order to name chemicals we first need to find the longest chain, or the parent chain. The name is based on the number of carbon atoms. We then need to determine if it has any double alkenes or triple alkynes bonds or if they are all single bonds alkanes and include this in the base of the name.

Numbers before the name will indicate where the double or triple bond is located. Functional groups are also important in the naming. If there is more than one functional group, then the group with a higher priority is the suffix of the name and you start numbering in a position to give it the lowest number possible. Any other functional groups are indicated with a prefix.

Nomenclature

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Chemical Names

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Want to watch this again later? In this lesson, we will learn how to name organic compounds using chemical nomenclature. We will learn how knowing the name of a compound also helps us know the structure of the compound. Chemical Names Everything has a name, otherwise we wouldn't have a way to refer to it. Ethanoic Acid Structure and Name So let's look at the structure of ethanoic acid and explain how the name 'ethanoic acid' describes the structure: Number of Carbon Atoms In naming organic chemical compounds the first thing we need to look for is the longest carbon chain, or the parent chain.

Each number has a name associated with it: Sometimes finding the parent chain isn't always as obvious as it may seem, such as with this compound: Depending on where you start you may come up with several different answers for the parent chain: Alkanes, Alkenes, and Alkynes Now that we know how to identify the longest chain and how to name it, we need to realize that this name is only a prefix. Even if we simply have a straight chain of 5 carbons: Now let's add a double bond in there: Functional Groups Remember the carboxylic acid that was in the ethanoic acid. Try it risk-free No obligation, cancel anytime.

Want to learn more? Select a subject to preview related courses: So let's look at this compound that has a carboxylic acid and a ketone: Lesson Summary Chemical nomenclature is a method to name chemicals which will tell us what the structure of the chemical is. Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher?

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IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry

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Chemical nomenclature - Wikipedia

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    Some compounds have been known for so long that a systematic nomenclature cannot compete with well-established common names. The names of ionic compounds are written by listing the name of the positive ion followed by the name of the negative ion. We therefore need a series of rules that allow us to unambiguously name positive and negative ions before we can name the salts these ions form.

    Some metals form positive ions in more than one oxidation state.

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    One of the earliest methods of distinguishing between these ions used the suffixes -ous and -ic added to the Latin name of the element to represent the lower and higher oxidation states, respectively. Chemists now use a simpler method, in which the charge on the ion is indicated by a Roman numeral in parentheses immediately after the name of the element. Negative ions that consist of a single atom are named by adding the suffix -ide to the stem of the name of the element. Predict the formula of the compound that forms when magnesium metal reacts with nitrogen to form magnesium nitride.

    Click here to check your answer to Practice Problem 4. At first glance, the nomenclature of the polyatomic negative ions in the table above seems hopeless.

    Ethanoic Acid Structure and Name

    There are several general rules, however, that can bring some order out of this apparent chaos. The name of the ion usually ends in either -ite or -ate. The -ite ending indicates a low oxidation state. Thus,the NO 2 - ion is the nitrite ion. The -ate ending indicates a high oxidation state.

    The NO 3 - ion, for example, is the nitrate ion. The prefix hypo - is used to indicate the very lowest oxidation state. The ClO- ion, for example, is the hypochlorite ion. The prefix per - as in hyper- is used to indicate the very highest oxidation state. The ClO 4 - ion is therefore the perchlorate ion.