Name: Nomenclature of Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 9 min 1 s
Description: Haloalkanes are formed by replacing a hydrogen atom in an alkane with a halogen atom. Haloarenes are derived by replacing the hydrogen atom attached to the b...

Question

Explain with examples the meaning of the term 'word root', 'suffix' and 'prefix' used in the IUPAC nomenclature of carbon compounds. How is branched chain alkanes named?

Accepted Answer

The word root, a basic unit of the name represents the number of carbon atoms in the parent chain. Parent chain is the longest possible continuous chain of carbon atoms.

For example: Meth for $C_{1}$ , Eth for $C_{2}$ , Prop for $C_{3}$ etc.

Suffix is the word root added to show the main functional group. The two types of suffix are used for this purpose.

Primary suffix: It is used to represent the multiple bonds i.e. saturation or unsaturation of carbon atoms present in parent chain.
Secondary suffix: It represents the nature of principle functional group present in the compound.

Prefix: The alkyl groups and functional groups other than the principal functional group are regarded as substituents or side chains. Their presence is indicated by writing suitable prefixes before the word root.

In a branched chain, alkanes are not present in a single chain. Some of the carbon atoms are present in side chains at one or more positions. In this the longest continuous chain is considered as the parent chain.

Explain with examples the meaning of the term 'word root', 'suffix' and 'prefix' used in the IUPAC nomenclature of carbon compounds. How is branched chain alkanes named?

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