Nomenclature and Its Different Types
🟦Nomenclature
🟦 IUPAC Nomenclature
🟦 Types of Nomenclature
🟦Naming Compounds before IUPAC Rules
🟦 Examples
🟦 Trivial Names
🟦 IUPAC
🟦 Timeline
IUPAC Rules for Organic Nomenclature
🟦 Basis of IUPAC System of Nomenclature
The name of every organic compound consists of following parts:
1. Root or Parent Hydrocarbon ["word root" and "primary suffix" together is known as base name]
2. Suffixes (primary and secondary) designating functional groups that may be present in the compound
3. Prefixes (primary or infix and secondary prefix) showing names of substituent groups
The prefix(es), infix and secondary suffix may or may not be required always.
🟦 Order of Name
1. Root or Parent Hydrocarbon/Root Word
2. Suffixes
(a) Primary Suffix
(b) Secondary Suffix
3. Prefixes
Summary of General Rules for Organic Nomenclature
1. Firstly select the parent chain (the longest unbroken continuous carbon chain) within molecules and assign a word root as prop, but, pent, hex etc.
2. Next, the appropriate primary suffix(es) is added to the root word to indicate the saturation or unsaturation.
3. If the molecule contains functional group or groups, a secondary suffix such as ‘-ol’ for alcohol, ‘-al’ for aldehyde, ‘-one’ for ketone etc. must be added to indicate the main functional group. This is optional and not necessary if the molecule contains no functional group.
4. Allocate numerical designations to the carbon atoms within the parent chain from one of its terminal starting where functional group or substituent (an alkyl group) is nearest.
5. Finally add prefix(es) such as methyl, ethyl, methoxy, chloro, bromo etc. to the IUPAC name, if there are side chains or substituents on the parent chain and mention their position in the longest carbon chain.
6. If there are more than one functional group present in the molecule, write their name on priority basis set by priority rules in nomenclature priority chart i.e. (–COOH) > (–CHO) > (>C=O) > (–OH) >(–NH₂) > (=) > (≡) >(–O–) = (–NO₂) = (–X) = (–R). [Last four groups have equal priority].
7. Prefix the root word with the infix "cyclo" if the parent chain is cyclic (like cycloalkanes, cycloalkenes etc.); or with the infix "spiro" if it is a spiro compound; or with the infix "bicyclo" if the compound is bicyclic.
Solved Example
The IUPAC name of the following compound (3-methylbutan-2-ol) is arrived in steps mentioned below.
Now add them to makeup the IUPAC name of the compound.
1. Longest Chain Rule/Selection Parent Carbon Chain (PCC) or Root Hydrocarbon Chain (RHC)
2. Lowest Number Rule/ Lowest Locant Rule
3. One Word Name
4. Rule for Larger Number of Side Chain
5. Naming same Alkyl Groups at Different Positions
6. Numbering of Different Alkyl Groups at Equivalent Positions in Lowest Alphabetical Order
7. First Point of Difference (Rule of First point of Difference)
8. Alphabetical order of the side chains
9. Naming same alkyl groups at same positions by repeating its positional number
10. Numbering the Complex Substituent
🌈 Quick Summary: IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Compounds
🔶 1. Longest Chain Rule
Choose the longest continuous carbon chain as the parent name.
🔷 2. Numbering Rule
Number the chain from the side that gives lowest numbers to substituents.
🟢 3. Substituents
Name side groups (methyl, ethyl, chloro, bromo) and place them in alphabetical order.
🟡 4. Multipliers
Use di, tri, tetra for repeating groups (not used for alphabetical order).
🟣 5. Functional Group Priority
Highest priority group decides the suffix (ol, al, oic acid, one).
🟠6. Double & Triple Bonds
Use ene for C=C and yne for C≡C, with position numbers.
🔵 7. Locants
Place numbers before names (2-methyl, 3-ene, 4-ol).
💗 8. No Spaces
Write everything together in one name (e.g., 2-methylbutane).
🌟🎯 IUPAC Nomenclature: Top Tips & Smart Memory Tricks
🟥 1. Longest Chain Always Wins
Find the longest carbon chain first, even if it’s not straight.
It decides the parent name.
🟦 2. Number From the Closest Point
Start numbering from the side that gives the lowest number to the first substituent or functional group.
🟩 3. Functional Group Priority = Suffix
Remember:
Acid > Aldehyde > Ketone > Alcohol > Amine > Alkene > Alkyne
The highest priority decides the suffix.
🟨 4. Double & Triple Bonds Get Preference
If tie happens, lowest number goes to ene or yne before side groups.
🟪 5. Alphabetical Order Trick
While naming substituents:
Ignore di, tri, tetra etc.
Use real names: bromo, chloro, ethyl, methyl.
🟧 6. Position Numbers Go Before Names
2-methyl, 3-chloro, 4-ene, 1-ol
Never put a space.
🔵 7. Multiple Bonds Rule
For both double and triple bonds:
Name as en-yn sequence (ene first).
💚 8. Cyclic Compounds
Add cyclo before main name: cyclohexane, cyclobutane.
Number to give substituents lowest possible locants.
❤️ 9. Ether Shortcut
Use the smaller group as alkoxy:
CH₃–O–C₂H₅ = methoxyethane
💛 10. Ester Shortcut
Alcohol part first, acid part second:
CH₃COOCH₂CH₃ → ethyl ethanoate
💙 11. Aldehydes & Acid Don’t Need Numbers
CHO & COOH group is always at carbon 1, so skip the locant.
🟠12. Dicarboxylic Acids End in “dioic acid”
HOOC–(CH₂)₃–COOH → pentanedioic acid
🟣 13. Branching Trick
Look for side chains before numbering to avoid mistakes.
💗 14. Always Check for Hidden Chains
Sometimes zig-zag structures hide the longest chain.
Follow the carbon spine carefully.
🎯💥 Ultimate IUPAC Nomenclature Quiz for MDCAT & ECAT | Test Your Naming Skills! 🧠🚀
1. What is the IUPAC name of CH₄?
🟥 A Methene
🟦 B Methane
🟩 C Methyne
🟨 D Carbon hydride
2. Parent chain length for C₅H₁₂:
🟥 A But
🟦 B Pent
🟩 C Hex
🟨 D Prop
3. CH₃–CH₂–CH₃
🟥 A Propane
🟦 B Ethane
🟩 C Butane
🟨 D Methane
4. Suffix for alcohol:
🟥 A one
🟦 B ene
🟩 C ol
🟨 D oic acid
5. CH₃–CH₂–OH
🟥 A Methanol
🟦 B Ethanol
🟩 C Propanol
🟨 D Ethanone
6. Highest priority group:
🟥 A Alkene
🟦 B Alkyne
🟩 C Carboxylic acid
🟨 D Aldehyde
7. Meaning of “di”:
🟥 A Two identical substituents
🟦 B Double bond
🟩 C Two double bonds
🟨 D None
8. CH₃–CH₂–CH₂–Cl
🟥 A 3-chloropropane
🟦 B Chloromethane
🟩 C Chloropropane
🟨 D 1-chloropropane
9. –CH₃ substituent
🟥 A Ethyl
🟦 B Methyl
🟩 C Propyl
🟨 D Methene
10. CH₃–CH=CH₂
🟥 A Ethene
🟦 B Propadiene
🟩 C Propene
🟨 D Propyne
11. Suffix for ketone:
🟥 A al
🟦 B oic acid
🟩 C ol
🟨 D one
12. Which comes first alphabetically?
🟥 A Methyl
🟦 B Bromo
🟩 C Chloro
🟨 D Ethyl
13. CH≡CH
🟥 A Ethene
🟦 B Ethyne
🟩 C Ethanone
🟨 D Ethanal
14. CH₃–CH₂–CHO
🟥 A Propanal
🟦 B Propanone
🟩 C Ethanal
🟨 D Methanal
15. Correct numbering rule:
🟥 A Start from longest chain
🟦 B Start where substituent gets lowest number
🟩 C Start always from left
🟨 D Start only from functional group
16. Suffix for carboxylic acid:
🟥 A oic acid
🟦 B one
🟩 C al
🟨 D amine
17. (CH₃)₂CH–CH₃
🟥 A Isobutane
🟦 B 2-methylpropane
🟩 C Butane
🟨 D Propylmethane
18. CH₃–O–CH₃
🟥 A Dimethoxy
🟦 B Methanol
🟩 C Methoxymethane
🟨 D Ethanone
19. Suffix for amide:
🟥 A amide
🟦 B amine
🟩 C oate
🟨 D aldehyde
20. CH₃–CH₂–COOH
🟥 A Methanoic acid
🟦 B Propanoic acid
🟩 C Ethanoic acid
🟨 D Butanoic acid
✅ ANSWER KEY
1-B
2-B
3-A
4-C
5-B
6-C
7-A
8-D
9-B
10-C
11-D
12-B
13-B
14-A
15-B
16-A
17-B
18-C
19-A
20-B
🎯🔥 Advanced IUPAC Nomenclature Quiz (Difficult MCQs)
1. CH₃–CH(Br)–CH₂–CH(CH₃)–C≡CH
🟥 A 6-bromo-3-methylhex-1-yne
🟦 B 2-bromo-4-methylhex-5-yne
🟩 C 2-bromo-4-methylhex-1-yne
🟨 D 4-methyl-2-bromohex-1-yne
2. (CH₃)₃C–CH₂–CH₂–OH
🟥 A 4-methylbutan-2-ol
🟦 B 3,3-dimethylbutan-1-ol
🟩 C 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol
🟨 D 3,3-dimethylpentan-1-ol
3. HOOC–CH₂–CH₂–CH₂–COOH
🟥 A pentanoic acid
🟦 B butanedioic acid
🟩 C propanedioic acid
🟨 D pentanedioic acid
4. CH₃–CH₂–CH(OH)–CH₂–COOH
🟥 A 3-hydroxypentanoic acid
🟦 B 2-hydroxypentanoic acid
🟩 C 4-hydroxypentanoic acid
🟨 D 3-hydroxybutanoic acid
5. Benzene ring with NO₂ (1), Br (3), CH₃ (5)
🟥 A 3-bromo-5-nitrotoluene
🟦 B 5-bromo-3-nitrotoluene
🟩 C 3-bromo-5-methylnitrobenzene
🟨 D 3-bromo-5-nitro-1-methylbenzene
6. CH₃–C(=O)–O–CH₂–CH₂–CH₃
🟥 A propyl methanoate
🟦 B ethyl propanoate
🟩 C propyl ethanoate
🟨 D methyl propanoate
7. CH₃–C≡C–CH₂–OH
🟥 A but-3-yn-1-ol
🟦 B but-1-yn-3-ol
🟩 C but-2-yn-1-ol
🟨 D pent-2-yn-1-ol
8. CH₃–CH₂–C(=O)–NH–CH₃
🟥 A N-methylpropanamide
🟦 B methyl propanoate
🟩 C propanamide
🟨 D N-ethylpropanamide
9. Cyclohexane with OH at C-1, CH₃ at C-3
🟥 A 3-methylcyclohexan-1-ol
🟦 B 1-methylcyclohexan-3-ol
🟩 C 1-hydroxy-3-methylcyclohexane
🟨 D 3-hydroxy-1-methylcyclohexane
10. CH₂=CH–CH₂–C≡C–CH₃
🟥 A hex-4-en-1-yne
🟦 B hex-1-en-4-yne
🟩 C hex-2-en-5-yne
🟨 D hex-3-en-1-yne
11. HO–CH₂–CHO
🟥 A glycolaldehyde
🟦 B 2-hydroxyethanal
🟩 C ethan-1,2-diol
🟨 D hydroxyethanone
12. CH₃–CH(Cl)–CH(Br)–CH₂–CH₃
🟥 A 2-bromo-3-chloropentane
🟦 B 3-bromo-2-chloropentane
🟩 C 2-chloro-3-bromopentane
🟨 D 3-chloro-2-bromopentane
13. CH₃–CH₂–O–CH₂–CH₂–Cl
🟥 A 1-chloro-2-ethoxyethane
🟦 B 2-chloroethoxyethane
🟩 C chloroethyl ethyl ether
🟨 D 2-chloro-1-methoxyethane
14. Benzene ring with –COOH at 1, –NH₂ at 4
🟥 A 4-aminobenzoic acid
🟦 B p-aminobenzoic acid
🟩 C para-aminobenzoic acid
🟨 D all of the above
15. (CH₃)₂CH–C(=O)–CH₂–CH₃
🟥 A 3-methylpentan-2-one
🟦 B 2-methylbutan-3-one
🟩 C 4-methylpentan-2-one
🟨 D 3-methylbutan-2-one
✅ ANSWER KEY (Separate)
1-C
2-B
3-D
4-A
5-D
6-C
7-A
8-A
9-A
10-B
11-B
12-C
13-A
14-D
15-A
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