Question

How do you name branched alkanes?

Answer 1

According to IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), whenever we are going to write the IUPAC name of a compound, we have to give numbering first to functional groups or highly substituted carbon(branched carbon). Means lower numbering should be a functional group or highly substituted carbon present in the molecule or compound.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked how we can write the names for branched alkanes.
- It is difficult to write the name for branched alkanes when compared to writing the name of the continuous chain.
- There are few rules we have to follow while writing the name for the branched alkanes and they are as follows.
- Count the number of carbons in the longest continuous chain.
- Give numbering first to the carbons in the chain that are closest to the branched carbon.
- We have to count the number of carbons in each branch present in the compound.
- We have to write the name of the branches in front of the name of the organic compound.
- We have to see how many branches (contains the same number of carbons) are there in the same organic compound.
- If the compound contains the same number of carbons in the branches then we have to write in the prefixes like di, tri, and tetra etc.

Note: We should give lowest numbering to the highly substituted carbon first and the name at the end of the IUPAC name is going to decide by the presence of the number of carbons in the longest chain of the given organic compound. The name for the number of carbons in the chain.