ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Student Hand Out ∂ŋjl’ ∆G

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Organic Compound - any compound whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen (also known as
“hydrocarbons” ) or compound that is the derivative of it

Classification of Organic Compounds

Hydrocarbon DerivativesStauffer, E., Dolan, J. & Newman, R. (2008). Fire Debris Analysis. Academic Press

Hydrocarbons

HYDROCARBONS – simplest organic compounds containing only HYDROGEN and CARBON

atoms
*Other organic compounds are derived from their structure, hence,
hydrocarbon derivatives.
Classification of Hydrocarbons
Alkanes Alkenes Alkynes

Saturated - carbon atom is Unsaturated – contains double bond (alkenes) or

bonded to four other atoms triple bonds (alkynes)
through a single covalent
bond

also called Paraffins meaning also called Olefins generally known as

“little activity”, which means because they form oily Acetylenes from the
the compounds are very liquids on reaction with first compound in the
unreactive chlorine gas series
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Student Hand Out ∂ŋjl’ ∆G
Four ways to represent the bonding
Molecular Formula Condense Structural Formula

shows the total number of atoms of show hydrogen atoms right next to the
each element in a molecule carbon atoms to which they are attached

C4H10
Expanded Molecular Formula Skeletal formula

shows all the atoms involved & the shorthand way of drawing organic
bonds attaching them molecules where carbon atoms are
implied at the junctions or ends of lines

Hydrocarbons

ALKANE
o simplest hydrocarbon which contains a single bond of carbon-carbon
Basic Profile

General formula o Nonane is an alkane. Its molecules contain 9

carbon atoms. Using the general formula, predict the
Alkane: C2 H2n+2 number of hydrogen atoms in a molecule of nonane.
Cycloalkane: C2 H2n o n = 9. So, 2n + 2 = (2 × 9) + 2 = 18 + 2 = 20.

Phase at room 1-4 Carbons: Gases

temperature 5-17 Carbons: Liquid
18+ Carbons: Waxy solid

Example: Methane o simplest alkane with a chemical formula of

CH4 o constituent of LPG, used for cooking
o greenhouse gas produced in livestock
 production, rice paddies, wetlands, landfills

Nomenclature
• system of naming chemical compounds

• International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry – the name should end with the last
syllable of the family group where it belongs (-ane, -ene, -yne)
Straight Chain Alkane

o takes the suffix -ane

o the prefix depends on the number of carbon atom in the chain

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Student Hand Out ∂ŋjl’ ∆G

• 4 carbon atom : but + ane

• Butane

8 carbon atom : oct +

ane
Octane

Branched Chain

1. Identify the parent chain: The longest possible HC chain

(The remaining carbons atoms that are not part of the parent are considered
as substituents.)

octane
 2. Identify substituents (side chains or groups)
Alkyl: name the substituent by
Halide groups
suffixing -yl with the appropriate
• Br- (bromo)
prefix.
• Cl- (chloro)

• CH3- methyl

• F- (fluoro)

• CH3CH2- ethyl

• I- (iodo)

• CH3CH2CH2- propyl

• (CH3)2CH- isopropyl

methyl
o Add the name of the substituent to the parent chain: methyloctane

3. Number the carbon chain and indicate the carbon to which the substituent
group is attached (start numbering from the end of the chain closest to the side
chains) o Place the locant before the substituent and connect them with a

hyphen.
3-methyloctane

If the same side chain appears more

than once:
⚫ indicate how many times it
appears by using prefixes:
⚫ di = 2, tri=3, tetra=4 2,3-dimethyloctane

⚫ number all carbons on the

parent chain where groups are
attached
⚫ separated by commas

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Student Hand Out ∂ŋjl’ ∆G

 If there are different groups
attached: • Arrange the
substituents
alphabetically (using the first
letter of their names) and
connect them with a hyphen.
The last substituent will be 4-ethyl-3,5-dimethyloctane
connected to the parent’s
name without any space or
hyphen.

Cycloalkanes

o Start with the base name "cyclo-" followed by the name of the alkane with
the same number of carbon atoms as the ring.
o If there are substituent groups (such as alkyl groups or halide groups), they
are numbered based on the position in the ring. The numbering starts at one
substituent and proceeds around the ring in the direction that gives the
substituents the lowest possible numbers.
o if there is only one substituent on the cycloalkane ring, no numbering is
needed because the position of the substituent is implied to be at one of
the carbons in the ring.

bromocyclopentane

ALKENES and ALKYNES

ALKENES ALKYNES

Collective name Olefins Acetylene group

General formula linear alkenes: CnH2n linear alkynes: CnH2n-2

cycloalkenes: CnH2n-2 cycloalkynes: CnH2n-4

Bonding At least one C-C double At least one C-C triple

bond exist in the bond exist in the
structure. structure.

Phase at room 2-4 Carbons: Gases 2-4 Carbons: Gases

temperature 5-15 Carbons: Liquid 5-17 Carbons: Liquid
16+ Carbons: Solid 18+ Carbons: Solid
 Example: Ethene Propene Acetylene (ethyne)
o Gases that are raw o for welding and
materials for plastics, cutting metals
alcohol, etc. o artificial ripening of
fruit. *Calcium carbide
(CaC2) is
a compound that is
commonly known as
kalburo speed up ripening
of fruits. When calcium
carbide reacts with water
such as moisture in the
air, ethyne gas is produced.

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Nomenclature
ALKENES

Same procedure with alkane nomenclature except the given considerations: 1. The parent
structure is the largest structure that contains the double bonds in the structure. 2. Name
the parent by suffixing -ene with the appropriate prefix.
3. Number the carbon atoms in such a way that the locants of the double bonds is the
smallest possible combination.
4. Place the locant before the suffix and use hyphen to separate the prefix-locant-suffix.

3,4-dimethylhex-2-ene

7-ethyl-3,4-dimethyldec-3-ene If there are 2 or

more double bonds, use the prefixes di, tri, tetra, etc.

3,6-dimethylhept-2,4-diene
 ALKYNES

Same procedure with alkene nomenclature except the given considerations: 1. The parent
structure is the largest structure that contains the triple bonds in the structure. 2. Name
the parent by suffixing -yne with the appropriate prefix.
3. Number the carbon atoms in such a way that the locants of the triple bonds is the
smallest possible combination.

2,2-dimethyl-hex-3-yne 2,2,9-triodo-5-methylnon-3-yne

ALKENYNE (hydrocarbon that contains double bond and triple bond at the same time)

Same procedure with alkane nomenclature except the given considerations: 1. The
parent structure is the largest structure that contains both double triple bonds in the
structure.
2. Name the parent by suffixing -en -yne with the appropriate prefix.
3. Number the carbon atoms in such a way that the locants of the multiple bonds is the
smallest possible combination. (the locants are written before their respective suffixes)

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS Student Hand Out ∂ŋjl’ ∆G

o double and triple bonds have equal priority. However if the positions of the double
and triple bond are symmetrically positioned in the longest continues carbon-
carbon chain then the double bond has the lower number

2-methylpent-1-en-3-yne pent-3-en-1-yne

oct-2-en-6-yne

ACTIVITY
Name the following hydrocarbons.