Naming Alkanes Flashcards
Methane
1 carbon
Ethane
2 carbons
Propane
3 carbons
Butane
4 carbons
If more than 1 parent chain
Choose one with most substituents
If parent cyclic
Add prefix cyclo to parent name
Substituent parents
Same as parent chain but with -ly
Number substituent side groups
Number prime
One substituent
Number parent chain so substituent has lowest number possible
If multiple substituents
parent to give substituent closet to end lowest # possible
If there’s a tie with multiple substituents closest to end have same number
Number parent so the second locant gets lowest possible
If multiple substituents and the tie breaker for numbering locants (2nd with lowest #) doesn’t work then…
assign lowest number alphabetically
More than 1 substituent
Use replicating prefixes ( di, Tri, tetra) and state the number each is on. Even if it’s the same u repeat the number.