Naming Organic Compounds [Online Video]

Online Video Lesson on Naming of Organic Compounds

In this video, we will focus on naming of organic compounds.

Naming Organic Compounds

In this video, we will focus on naming first four members of four different homologous series – alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Now, the name of an organic compound is divided into two parts. First part tells us the number of carbon atoms present in each molecule. Second part tells us which homologous series the compound belongs to.

If name of compound starts with meth, it means it only has 1 carbon.
If name of compound starts with eth, it means it has 2 carbons.
If name of compound starts with prop, it means it has 3 carbons.
If name of compound starts with but, it means it has 4 carbons.

Alkane

Let’s focus on alkane. All alkanes have names ending with -ane.
First member of alkane has 1 carbon. Hence, it has the name methane.
Second alkane member has 2 carbons. Hence, it has the name ethane.
Third alkane member has 3 carbons. Hence, it has the name propane.
Fourth alkane member has 4 carbons. Hence, it has the name butane.

Alkene

Next, we have alkene. All alkenes have names ending with -ene.
Methene does not exist as an alkene needs to have at least 2 carbons.
Hence, the first member of alkene has 2 carbons. Hence, it has the name ethene.
Second alkene member has 3 carbons. Hence, it has the name propene.
Third alkene member has 4 carbons. Hence, it has the name butene.

Alcohol

Now, we shall focus on alcohol. All alcohols have names ending with -anol.
First member of alcohol has 1 carbon. Hence, it has the name methanol.
Second alcohol member has 2 carbons. Hence, it has the name ethanol.
Third alcohol member has 3 carbons. Hence, it has the name propanol.
Fourth alcohol member has 4 carbons. Hence, it has the name butanol.

Carboxylic Acid

Lastly, let’s focus on carboxylic acid, our organic acid. All carboxylic acids have names ending with -anoic acid.

First member of carboxylic acid has 1 carbon. Hence, it has the name methanoic acid.
Second member has 2 carbons. Hence, it has the name ethanoic acid.
Third member has 3 carbons. Hence, it has the name propanoic acid.
Fourth member has 4 carbons. Hence, it has the name butanoic acid.

Like the Chemistry learning video and share with your friends if you find it useful. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel for more Chemistry learning videos. Have fun learning Chemistry 😊

Click here for writing full structural formula of alkanes

Click here for writing full structural formula of alkenes

Click here for writing full structural formula of alcohols

Click here for writing full structural formula of carboxylic acids

Click here for naming of organic compounds

Click here for homologous series