1. Alkane Nomenclature

2. in alkanes, all carbons are “saturated” (have four single bonds)
Alkanes have the general formula CnH2n+2
This is the basis of all organic nomenclature

3. 1. Find the longest continuous chain of carbons and name.
# of carbons name
1 methane
2 ethane
3 propane
4 butane
5 pentane
6 hexane
7 heptane

4. 8 octane pentadecane
9 nonane hexadecane
10 decane heptadecane
11 undecane octadecane
12 dodecane nonadecane
13 tridecane eicosane
14 tetradecane

5. 2. Number the chain so that the branches have the lowest possible number.
3. Name and number each branching group (name with –yl ending)

6. Branching Groups methyl --CH3 ethyl --CH2—CH3 Propyl --CH2—CH2—CH3 l
Isopropyl --CH3—CH—CH3
Butyl --CH2—CH2--CH2—CH3
Isobutyl CH3
--CH2—CH—CH3

7. secbutyl CH3—CH--CH2—CH3
Tertbutyl CH3—C—CH3
CH3

8. 4. Alphabetize the groups.
5 If there is more than one group with the same name, use the appropriate prefix with the group name.
2 groups – di- 5 groups – penta-
3 groups – tri- 6 groups – hexa-
4 groups – tetra- 7 groups – hepta-

9. 6. Punctuate
Numbers are separated by commas
Numbers are separated from words by hyphens
7. If a branching group chain consists of more than 4 carbons, the group is named as if it were a compound using the same rules (1-6), with the following exceptions:
a. the chain must start at the branching carbon
b. the name ends in –yl, not in –ane
c. The group is enclosed in parentheses with its
position # outside the parentheses
d. Alphabetize the group by the 1st letter inside
the parentheses.

10. 8. If there are two chains of equal length, the chain with the greatest number of side chains is chosen as the main chain.