Naming Organic Compounds

these compounds have ONE name - like Cher, Madonna, or Batman

prefix for the name tells you the number of carbons in the compound

suffix for the name tells you how many hydrogens are in the compound

suffix also tells you if the compound only has single bonds, a double bond, or a triple bond

meth- = 1 C

eth- = 2 C

prop- = 3 C

but- = 4 C

the rest are the same - pent-, hex-, hept-, oct-, non-, and dec-.

-ane: only single bonds

-ane: #H = 2(#C) + 2

-ene: one double bond between 2 carbons, the rest are single bonds

-ene: #H = 2(#C)

-yne: one triple bond between 2 carbons, the rest are single bonds

-yne: #H = 2(#C) - 2