Naming Alkanes: CH3CH(CH3)CH3CH(CH2CH3)CH(CH3)CH3

  • Thread starter PhysicBeginner
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In summary, the naming rules for alkanes are as follows: -Start with the longest unbroken chain of carbon atoms it doesn't matter how it is twisted as long as it isn't a part of a circle (then cyclo) or broken.-Use the normal methane, ethane series to name it. This is the suffix of the alkane. -Then look at the branches. Assign the carbon atoms numbers from 1 - the highest in the chain (in your case 6). Start from the end of the molecule where the carbon atom of the first branch has the lowest number.-After that, you go to the first branch. See how many carbon atoms the branch compose of. Name
  • #1
PhysicBeginner
35
0
Hi, my question is when naming Alkanes like CH3CH(CH3)CH3CH(CH2CH3)CH(CH3)CH3
Do I name it as 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpentane?

Also does this naming rules also apply to alkene and alkyne?
 
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  • #2
Here are the rules for naming alkanes, alkenes, alkynes:

Alkanes:

Start with the longest unbroken chain of carbon atoms it doesn't matter how it is twisted as long as it isn't a part of a circle (then cyclo) or broken.

Use the normal methane, ethane series to name it. This is the suffix of the alkane.

(In your case:6 carbon atoms = hexane)

Then look at the branches. Assign the carbon atoms numbers from 1 - the highest in the chain (in your case 6). Start from the end of the molecule where the carbon atom of the first branch has the lowest number.

After that, you go to the first branch. See how many carbon atoms the branch compose of. Name this with the methane ethane series as well but the words change a bit just here:

methane --> methyl
ethane --> ethyl
propane --> propyl etc.

This is to distinquise between the main chain and the branshed
Do not only write down the name of the branch but also the number of the carbon atom from the main chain on which it is positioned on.
Go to the next in line and repeat until you are done.

Let us take an example:

[tex]CH_3CH_2CH_2(CH_2CH_3)CH_2CH_2(CH_2)CH_3CH_3[/tex]

The longest unbroken carbon chain = 7 = -Heptane
The number of the first branch carbon atom = 2 (from the right)
The name for the 1st branch = methyl (1 carbon)
The number of the second branch carbon atom = 4 (from the right)
The name of the 2nd branch = ethyl (2 carbon)

The name of that molecule would be:

2-methyl-4-ethylheptane

if there are 2 methyl groups in a molecule it is dimetyl

Lets say that the ethyl group had been a methyl group:

2,4-dimethylheptane

Naming alkenes and alkynes are done in excatly the same order, but the carbon chain picked must contain the doubble/tripple bond.

Now i think you can name your molecule by yourself :)
 
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  • #3
Answer in white:
"3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpentane" is correctly named as 2-methyl-3-ethylhexane
 
  • #4
No that is not correct :S

Shouldn't it be
2-methyl-4-ethylhexane
?
 
  • #5
No, the ethyl group is on the 3rd carbon,
hence 2-methyl-3-ethylhexane.

When PhysicBeginner mentioned "3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpentane,"
-Draw a pentane molecule.
-Add a methyl group to the 2nd & 5th carbons.
-And an ethyl group to the 3rd carbon.

What results:
-Adding a methyl to the fifth carbon of pentane results in hexane.
-The 2-methyl group retains its name and location.
-The 3-ethyl group name retains its name and location.

Thus, you have 2-methyl-3-ethylhexane. :wink:
 
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  • #6
here is the forumla that was given:

[tex]CH_3CH(CH_3)CH_3CH(CH_2CH_3)CH(CH_3)[/tex]

which can be simplified to

[tex]CH_3CH(CH_3)CH_3CH(CH_2CH_3)CHCH_3[/tex]

[tex]CH3CH(CH3)CH3CH(CH2CH3)CHCH3[/tex]
1____2________3____4_____________5__6

2-metyl-4-ethylpentane :)
 
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  • #7
Mattara said:
here is the forumla that was given:
[tex]CH_3CH(CH_3)CH_3CH(CH_2CH_3)CH(CH_3)[/tex]
which can be simplified to
[tex]CH_3CH(CH_3)CH_3CH(CH_2CH_3)CHCH_3[/tex]
[tex]CH3CH(CH3)CH3CH(CH2CH3)CHCH3[/tex]
1____2________3____4_____________5__6
2-metyl-4-ethylpentane :)
Yes,
[tex]CH_3CH(CH_3)CH_3CH(CH_2CH_3)CH(CH_3)[/tex] is 2-methyl-4-ethylhexane. I never said it wasn't.

But if you read what I wrote carefully,
I said,
"3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpentane is correctly named as 2-methyl-3-ethylhexane.

Clearly, I refer only to the name--"3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpentane", ----not whatever
[tex]CH_3CH(CH_3)CH_3CH(CH_2CH_3)CH(CH_3)[/tex] was.

And yes, my statement is correct. Please read more carefully next time :wink:.
 
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  • #8
PhysicBeginner said:
Hi, my question is when naming Alkanes like CH3CH(CH3)CH3CH(CH2CH3)CH(CH3)CH3
Do I name it as 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpentane?
Also does this naming rules also apply to alkene and alkyne?

Aha, i missed the last [tex]CH_3[/tex]

sry, my bad :p
 

1. What is the basic structure of the given molecule?

The given molecule is an alkane, which is a type of hydrocarbon with only single bonds between carbon atoms. It consists of 12 carbon atoms and 26 hydrogen atoms, arranged in a specific order.

2. How do you determine the name of the molecule?

The name of the molecule is determined using the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) naming system. This involves identifying the longest continuous carbon chain, identifying any branches or substituents, and using prefixes and suffixes to denote the number and placement of these branches.

3. What is the prefix and suffix for this molecule?

The prefix for this molecule is "heptane", which indicates the longest continuous chain of 7 carbon atoms. The suffix is "ane", which indicates that the molecule is an alkane.

4. How do you number the carbon atoms in this molecule?

In order to determine the numbering of the carbon atoms, you must start from one end of the longest continuous chain and assign numbers to each carbon atom, with the first carbon being closest to the branch or substituent. In this case, the numbering would start from the left end of the molecule.

5. What is the name of this molecule?

The name of this molecule is 2,3-dimethylheptane. This is because it has 2 methyl groups attached to the 2nd and 3rd carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain. The "di" prefix is used to indicate two of the same substituent, and the "methyl" suffix denotes a substituent consisting of one carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms.

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