Chapter 5: Nomenclature

The chapter emphasizes starting with the highest priority functional group (e.g., carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines) to determine the suffix and then identifying any double or triple bonds to assign the proper “-en” or “-yn” infixes. Students are taught how to select and number the longest carbon chain that includes priority features and how to apply prefixes for various substituents, including halogens and branched alkyl groups like isopropyl and tert-butyl. Special attention is given to assigning positions for all groups and unsaturations based on minimizing the numerical values. The chapter also introduces stereochemistry notation (cis/trans, R/S), covers common names for familiar molecules like acetic acid and formaldehyde, and explains how to translate names into accurate structural drawings. Through a layered, backward-building approach, the chapter gives learners a step-by-step toolkit for mastering both naming and structural interpretation of organic compounds.