{"id":3073,"date":"2022-05-23T16:32:35","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T16:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/?p=3073"},"modified":"2022-06-03T13:15:01","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T13:15:01","slug":"alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\/","title":{"rendered":"Naming Alkanes: The Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Naming Alkanes<\/span><\/strong>: An alkane is a hydrocarbon with only single covalent bonds. The general formula for an alkane is C<sub>n<\/sub>H<sub>2n+2<\/sub>, where n can be any whole number greater than 0. Alkanes are the simplest type of hydrocarbon, and they all have just one IUPAC name that is derived from their molecular formula.  However, alkanes can be more complicated than just normal straight chain alkanes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/1-chloro5-methylhexane.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/1-chloro5-methylhexane-1024x470.jpg\" alt=\"3D molecule\n\" class=\"wp-image-3092\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/1-chloro5-methylhexane-1024x470.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/1-chloro5-methylhexane-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/1-chloro5-methylhexane-768x353.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/1-chloro5-methylhexane.jpg 1172w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"has-ast-global-color-8-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-alkanes-use-a-simple-naming-system-naming-alkanes-the-complete-guide\">Alkanes use a simple naming system. Naming Alkanes: The Complete Guide<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>As with all of organic chemistry, nomenclature follows the IUPAC rules of naming.  Please do not confuse this with their common names.  For example, isopentane is a common name, the IUPAC name is 1-methylbutane, however both names refer to the same chemical compound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/isopentane.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/isopentane-300x258.jpg\" alt=\"1-methyl butane\" class=\"wp-image-3093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/isopentane-300x258.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/isopentane.jpg 505w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-naming-alkanes-nomenclature\"><strong>Naming Alkanes: Nomenclature<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The very first thing that needs to be done is to start with the parent chain, which is the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in the molecule. Once you have identified the parent chain, count the number of carbons in that chain. This will tell you what kind of alkane it is.  You should also review the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/alkane-formula\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">alkane formula<\/a> before you get too far into this, the link is to one of our blog posts on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<em><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">PRO TIP<\/span>:<\/strong> Circle the parent chain to easily identify it and separate it from the branches.<\/em>]  The parent chain can then be used to put together the alkane name in IUPAC format. It depends on your professor and your course, but most instructors would want you to know the names for all unbranched alkanes from 1 to 12 carbons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Alkanes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Alkanes.png\" alt=\"naming alkanes\" class=\"wp-image-3074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Alkanes.png 500w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Alkanes-249x300.png 249w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s talk about that pro tip a little more.  The best way to start a nomenclature problem, when it comes to alkanes, is to circle the longest continuous carbon chain, which is the carbon backbone, and then name the alkane accordingly. A quick note about the image below: please notice we call it &#8220;a&#8221; nonane or &#8220;an&#8221; octane.  Octane itself, when it is eight carbon atoms in a straight chain, is called octane or n-octane.  The octane we show below has a carbon branch, and would be name 4-ethyl octane, which is one of the isomers of octane, but is not n-octane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/page\/B96EA0F8-E580-40BB-B443-40393469CCC7?ingress=0&amp;visitId=221d1e99-f809-42d9-b644-f5f680ba0f20\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-300x250.png\" alt=\"organic chemistry help\" class=\"wp-image-3040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-1024x852.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-768x639.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkane-backbones.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkane-backbones-1024x461.png\" alt=\"naming alkanes: alkane backbones\" class=\"wp-image-3078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkane-backbones-1024x461.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkane-backbones-300x135.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkane-backbones-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkane-backbones.png 1213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-name-alkanes-with-branches\"><strong>How do you name alkanes with branches?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&#8217;re dealing with a molecule that is a little more complicated than a simple straight chain, we have a problem: We no longer can use the simple names based on number of carbons.  The UIPAC name is one that names the backbone and then incorporates the substituents to give a name that is unique and distinctly identifiable to that molecule.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are the names of the most common alkyl branches (and some less common ones):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkyl-side-chains.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"802\" height=\"643\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkyl-side-chains.jpg\" alt=\"alkyl side chains\" class=\"wp-image-3090\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkyl-side-chains.jpg 802w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkyl-side-chains-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkyl-side-chains-768x616.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we know the backbone alkane, and what the branches are, we need to determine the position of the branch.  <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">KEY PART<\/span><\/strong>: Number the branch so have the smallest number start the naming.  As shown in the example below, this molecule is 4-ethyl octane NOT 5-ethyl octane.  We need to count from the right side in this case, not the left side, which gives the lower number to the ethyl branch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/numbered-octane.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"479\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/numbered-octane.png\" alt=\"naming alkanes: numbering alkane chains\n\" class=\"wp-image-3081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/numbered-octane.png 479w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/numbered-octane-300x122.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few other examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/branched-alkanes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/branched-alkanes-1024x541.png\" alt=\"alkane substituents\" class=\"wp-image-3080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/branched-alkanes-1024x541.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/branched-alkanes-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/branched-alkanes-768x406.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/branched-alkanes.png 1147w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-name-alkanes-with-substituents\"><strong>How do you name alkanes with substituents?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For this discussion, we are going to make a distinction between carbon branches and substituents.  Technically, anything coming off of the carbon chain can be a substituent, but in an effort to be a little more clear, we are going to call things other than carbon branches &#8220;substituents&#8221;.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common one of these that you will find are halides.  When halides are substituents on a substituent on a carbon chain, the molecule is called an alkyl halide.  The halogen substituent gets the &#8220;o&#8221; suffix, as shown below, and gets a higher priority than a carbon branch.  [we will talk more about priority in the next section]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Halogen<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Suffix<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-F<\/td><td>&#8220;Floro&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-Cl<\/td><td>&#8220;Chloro&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-Br<\/td><td>&#8220;Bromo&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-I<\/td><td>&#8220;Iodo&#8221;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption>Halogens and the substituent names<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:59px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkyl-halides.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"851\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkyl-halides.png\" alt=\"alkanes with halides are alky halides \" class=\"wp-image-3076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkyl-halides.png 851w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkyl-halides-300x87.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/alkyl-halides-768x222.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>A couple of examples of alkyl halides<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-name-cycloalkanes\"><strong>How do you name cycloalkanes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cycloalkanes are just alkanes in a ring.  It is as simple as that.  They are named according to how many carbon atoms they have in their ring. For example, cyclopropane is made up of three carbon atoms. The prefix cyclo- refers to the fact that the alkane is in a ring formation.  The cycloalkanes (up to 10 carbons) are depicted below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes-1024x200.jpg\" alt=\"cycloalkanes\" class=\"wp-image-3091\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes-1024x200.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes-300x59.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes-768x150.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes-1536x300.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cylcoalkanes.jpg 1564w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Quick note on these rings<\/em>:  As you well know, these rings are not actually flat, like they are shown on this page.  They each have a preferred conformation, as you will see in great detail with cyclohexane as you proceed in organic chemistry. In fact, here is a conformation of cyclooctane, viewed in the Newman representation.  Notice how it has axial and equatorial substituents, just like cyclohexane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclooctane-3d.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"574\" height=\"404\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclooctane-3d.jpg\" alt=\"cyclooctane in 3D\n\" class=\"wp-image-3102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclooctane-3d.jpg 574w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclooctane-3d-300x211.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-name-cycloalkanes-with-substituents-and-or-branches\"><strong>How do you name cycloalkanes with substituents and\/or branches?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Simple, we name these the same way that we name straight chain alkanes.  Here are the steps: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Determine the longest number of carbon atoms.  <strong>NOTE<\/strong>: If the longest chain of carbons is a straight chain alkane, then that&#8217;s how we name it and the cycloalkane is a substituent.  Conversely, if the longest chain of carbons is a cycloalkane then the straight chain alkane is the substituent. <\/li><li>Circle the cycloalkane in red, and number so that the substituents have the lowest total number possible. <\/li><li>Place the substituents in alphabetical order, even if there number doesn&#8217;t come first in the order.  <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-rounded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/sample-cyclohexane.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/sample-cyclohexane.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/sample-cyclohexane.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/sample-cyclohexane-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>PRO TIP<\/em>: When naming organic molecules, commas only go between two (or more) numbers, everything else gets dashes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-these-are-all-alkanes-and-cycloalkanes-unless\">These are all alkanes and cycloalkanes, unless&#8230;..<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a hydroxyl group present.  That takes priority over alkyl side chains and halogens and turns the molecule into an alcohol. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/butanol.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"566\" height=\"298\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/butanol.jpg\" alt=\"butanol\n\" class=\"wp-image-3101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/butanol.jpg 566w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/butanol-300x158.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-mistakes-to-avoid\"><strong>Common mistakes to avoid:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Common mistake #1<\/em>: The longest alkane chain wasn&#8217;t the straightest on the page. This is a HUGE trick professors always try to pull on students.  Here is an example of that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/longest-alkane-chain.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/longest-alkane-chain.png\" alt=\"alkane backbone\" class=\"wp-image-3085\" width=\"742\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/longest-alkane-chain.png 923w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/longest-alkane-chain-300x80.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/longest-alkane-chain-768x206.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Common mistake #2<\/em>: Misnumbering the substituents.   It is easy to forget that you DO NOT just got right to left (or left to right) to number substituents.  It all depends on what gives you the lowest combination of numbers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2-3-dimethylhexane.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2-3-dimethylhexane.png\" alt=\"naming alkanes: 2,3 dimethylhexane\" class=\"wp-image-3086\" width=\"337\" height=\"262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2-3-dimethylhexane.png 449w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2-3-dimethylhexane-300x233.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Common mistake #3<\/em>: Cyclomethane and cycloethane don&#8217;t exist.  The smallest cycloalkane is cyclopropane, and even that is pretty unstable because of strain.  <em>Fun fact<\/em>: Cyclopropane is a triangle shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclopropane.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"138\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclopropane-300x138.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclopropane-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/cyclopropane.jpg 542w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Two drawings of cyclopropane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Common mistake #<\/em>4: When numbering cycloalkane substituents, be sure to go around the ring and get the lowest number for each substituent.  For example, the molecule below is 2-bromo-1-chloro-3-methylcyclohexane.  If we numbered the other way around the ring, it would not have the lowest set of numbers possible.  Also, we numbered the chlorine first to give it the lowest set of  numbers.  If we numbered the bromine first, it would give a higher set of numbers around the ring: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Common mistake #<\/em>5: When naming the compound, be sure to put the substituents in alphabetical order, even it means putting a higher substituent number in front of a lower one.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane-pt-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"757\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane-pt-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane-pt-2.jpg 757w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bromo-chloro-cyclohexane-pt-2-300x156.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Naming Alkanes: Exercises&#8212;Scroll below for the answers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkane-problems-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkane-problems-1-1024x502.jpg\" alt=\"nomenclature exercises\n\" class=\"wp-image-3100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkane-problems-1-1024x502.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkane-problems-1-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkane-problems-1-768x377.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/alkane-problems-1.jpg 1087w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Last, one of favorite blog posts is about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/top-organic-chemistry-websites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">top organic chemistry websites<\/a>, is is worth a read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/page\/B96EA0F8-E580-40BB-B443-40393469CCC7?ingress=0&amp;visitId=221d1e99-f809-42d9-b644-f5f680ba0f20\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-300x250.png\" alt=\"organic chemistry help\" class=\"wp-image-3040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-1024x852.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1-768x639.png 768w, https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Organic-chemistry-help-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:500px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>n-octane<\/li><li>2-methyl-5-isopropyloctane<\/li><li>2-hexanol<\/li><li>4-ethyl-2,3-dimethyl-1-cyclopropyl-cyclohexane<\/li><li>3-chloro-1,1-dimethylcyclopentane<\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Naming Alkanes: An alkane is a hydrocarbon with only single covalent bonds. The general formula for an alkane is CnH2n+2, where n can be any whole number greater than 0. Alkanes are the simplest type of hydrocarbon, and they all have just one IUPAC name that is derived from their molecular formula. However, alkanes can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Naming Alkanes: The Complete Guide -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Naming alkanes: Learn how to name alkanes using simple and straightforward rules. Organic chemistry can be easy with this simple guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aceorganicchem.com\/blog\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dr. Michael Pa\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dr. Michael Pa\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/854192b6b8f267c7ee95ddba11dcd4b4\"},\"headline\":\"Naming Alkanes: The Complete Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-05-23T16:32:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-06-03T13:15:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1203,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/05\\\/1-chloro5-methylhexane-1024x470.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/\",\"name\":\"Naming Alkanes: The Complete Guide -\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/alkanes-naming-chemistry-organic\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aceorganicchem.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/05\\\/1-chloro5-methylhexane-1024x470.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-05-23T16:32:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-06-03T13:15:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Naming alkanes: Learn how to name alkanes using simple and straightforward rules. 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