general formula for an alcohol chemdoodle

The stem names of aldehydes and ketones are derived from those of the parent alkanes, defined by the longest continuous chain (LCC) of carbon atoms that contains the functional group.Here are some simple IUPAC rules for naming aldehydes and ketones: The ketone with four carbon atoms is ethyl methyl ketone.Ĭlassify each compound as an aldehyde or a ketone. (Note the similarity to the naming of ethers.) Another name for acetone, then, is dimethyl ketone. Generally, the common names of ketones consist of the names of the groups attached to the carbonyl group, followed by the word ketone.

It is widely known as acetone, a unique name unrelated to other common names for ketones. The stems for the common names of the first four aldehydes are as follows:īecause the carbonyl group in a ketone must be attached to two carbon groups, the simplest ketone has three carbon atoms. The common names of aldehydes are taken from the names of the acids into which the aldehydes can be converted by oxidation. Because they contain the same functional group, aldehydes and ketones share many common properties, but they still differ enough to warrant their classification into two families.īoth common and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) names are frequently used for aldehydes and ketones, with common names predominating for the lower homologs. The carbon-to-oxygen double bond is not shown but understood to be present. This follows the general rule that in condensed structural formulas H comes after the atom it is attached to (usually C, N, or O). In condensed formulas, we use CHO to identify an aldehyde rather than COH, which might be confused with an alcohol. In an aldehyde, at least one of the attached groups must be a hydrogen atom. The following general formulas, in which R represents an alkyl group and Ar stands for an aryl group, represent ketones. In a ketone, two carbon groups are attached to the carbonyl carbon atom. It is found in carbohydrates, fats, proteins, nucleic acids, hormones, and vitamins-organic compounds critical to living systems. The carbonyl group is ubiquitous in biological compounds. The next functional group we consider, the carbonyl group, has a carbon-to-oxygen double bond.Ĭarbonyl groups define two related families of organic compounds: the aldehydes and the ketones. Use the IUPAC system to name aldehydes and ketones.Use common names to name aldehydes and ketones.Identify the general structure for an aldehyde and a ketone.

General formula for an alcohol chemdoodle