
For example, in the molecule shown below, the longest chain of carbons has six C atoms. The longest chain determines the parent name of the hydrocarbon. Molecules with other elements in their carbon backbone are substituted hydrocarbons. Note that the longest chain may not be drawn in a straight line. Chains and/or rings of carbon atoms with the occasional substitution of an element such as nitrogen or oxygen form this carbon backbone. The carbon backbone of a molecule comes in a variety of shapes: linear, ring-like, or highly branched. Here, we will add some steps to the procedure so you can name branched hydrocarbons.įirst, given the structure of an alkane, identify the longest continuous chain of C atoms this is known as the parent chain. The carbon backbone of a molecule is made up of a string of carbon atoms held together with either single or double bonds. You have already learned the basics of nomenclature-the names of the first 10 normal hydrocarbons. By learning and applying these rules, you can name any organic compound when given its structure or determine the unique structure of a molecule from its name. Worldwide, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has developed the system of nomenclature for organic compounds, so these rules are sometimes called the IUPAC rules of nomenclature. These rules make up the system of nomenclature for naming organic molecules.
#Carbon backbone series#
There are a series of rules for naming branched alkanes (and, ultimately, for all organic compounds). However, they are different compounds with different physical and chemical properties. These branched alkanes are isomers of straight-chain alkanes having the same number of C atoms.

Many hydrocarbons have branches of C atoms attached to a chain they are called branched hydrocarbons. Not all hydrocarbons are straight chains. Draw the structural formula of a branched hydrocarbon from its name.Name a branched hydrocarbon from its structure. Amino acids can be classified according to the metabolic fate of the carbon skeleton in: ketogenic, glucogenic.
