What is the Prefix of Alkane, Alkene, Alkyne, Ether and Alkyl Halide in Organic Nomenclature?

1 Answer
anor277
May 15, 2018

Well, you find the LONGEST hydrocarbyl chain....and number this such that the LOWEST numbers are specified...

Explanation:

#CH_4#, #"methane;"#
#H_3C-CH_3#, #"ethane;"#
#H_3C-CH_2CH_3#, #"propane;"#
#H_3C-CH_2CH_2CH_3#, #"butane;"#
#H_3C-CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3#, #"pentane;"#
#H_3C-CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_2CH_3#, #"hexane;"#
#H_3C(CH_2)_5CH_3#, #"heptane;"#
#H_3C(CH_2)_6CH_3#, #"octane"#
#H_3C(CH_2)_7CH_3#, #"nonane;"#
#H_3C(CH_2)_8CH_3#, #"decane."#

Of course, from butane, each alkane can have several structural isomers...the straight chain derivative is often referred to as #"n-alkane"#.

Hexane can generate five structural isomers. Decane generates an astonishing 75 structural isomers, so the interwebz tells me...

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