How are cycloalkanes named?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 27, 2018

How big is the ring.....?

Explanation:

The smallest cycloalkane available is #C_3H_6#, #"cyclopropane"#, and then we gots #C_4H_8#, #"cyclobutane"#, and then we gots #C_5H_10#, #"cyclopentane"#, and then we gots #C_6H_12#, #"cyclohexane"#....

And thus cycloalkanes have the ONE DEGREE OF UNSATURATION.

And of course the carbocyclic ring can have substituents, and this often adds a geometric dimension to the ring structure....two substituents can be on the same (#"cis"#) or OPPOSITE (#"trans"#)sides of the ring.

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