🔬 CONSUMER CHEMISTRY REVIEWER: ALIPHATIC COMPOUNDS +
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
🧠 60-SECOND SUMMARY: 5 Key Points About Aliphatic Compounds
1. Carbon Chain Numbering
o Always find the longest straight chain (parent chain).
o Start numbering from the end closest to a branch or
functional group.
o Goal: Give the lowest possible number to any side chain or
reactive group.
2. Branches (Substituents)
o –CH3 is methyl, –CH2CH3 is ethyl, –CH2CH2CH3 is propyl, –
CH2CH2CH2CH3 is butyl.
o Put the carbon number before the branch: 2-methylbutane
(CH3 on carbon 2).
o Use di-, tri-, tetra- if there’s more than one of the same group:
Ex: 2,3-dimethylpentane (methyl groups on carbons 2 and
3)
3. Hydrogen Adjustment in Branching
o Carbon makes 4 bonds. If you add a branch, remove a
hydrogen.
o A carbon with a methyl branch becomes –CH2– (not –CH3).
4. Structure Types
o Expanded: Shows all atoms and bonds.
o Condensed: Groups atoms (CH3CH2CH3).
o Line: Each point is a carbon; hydrogens are not shown, but
assumed.
5. IUPAC Naming Rules
o Find the longest chain → number it → name the branches and
their positions → add suffix (-ane, -ene, -yne).
o Example: 3-ethyl-2-methylpentane
🧪 DETAILED LESSON RECAP
🔹 What Are Aliphatic Compounds?
Chains that can be straight or branched (but not rings like benzene).
Types:
o Alkanes: Single bonds only
o Alkenes: At least one double bond
o Alkynes: At least one triple bond
🔗 Functional Groups + Aliphatic Compounds
Functional group = part of the molecule that reacts.
Common examples:
o –OH = alcohol (ends in -ol)
o –COOH = carboxylic acid (-oic acid)
o C=C = alkene (-ene)
o C≡C = alkyne (-yne)
o –CHO = aldehyde (-al)
o –CO– = ketone (-one)
🧾 Naming Complex Compounds (Examples + Logic)
1. hept-2-yne
Hept = 7 carbon chain
-yne = triple bond
2 = triple bond starts at carbon 2
Why not 2-heptyne? Because “2-heptyne” can sound like the branch is
on carbon 2 — hept-2-yne is clearer.
2. 3-methylpent-1-yne
5 carbon chain (pent), triple bond on C1
Methyl branch on C3
3. 2,3-dimethylbutane
Butane = 4 carbons
Methyl groups on C2 and C3
Use di- since it’s two of the same group
4. 3-ethyl-2-methylpentane
7 carbon chain
Ethyl (–CH2CH3) on C3
Methyl (–CH3) on C2
Alphabetical order in naming: ethyl before methyl
5. pent-2-en-4-yne
5 carbon chain
Double bond on C2, triple bond on C4
Both are included in name using en-yne system
🧬 Why Does Hydrogen Decrease in Branching?
Carbon needs 4 bonds.
If a branch replaces a hydrogen, one hydrogen is lost.
Ex: CH3 becomes CH2 when a branch is added.
🧩 Functional Group Questions You Might Be Asked
1. What is a functional group?
o A group of atoms that changes how the molecule reacts.
2. Give an example of a compound with a functional group and a
branch.
o Example: 3-methylbutan-1-ol (alcohol + methyl branch)
3. Functional group vs branch?
o Functional group = reactive part (like –OH)
o Branch = extra carbon chain (like –CH3)
4. How do you find the parent chain?
o Choose the longest chain that includes the functional group or
multiple bond.
5. What is an isomer?
o Same formula, different structure.
6. di-, tri-, tetra- meanings?
o 2, 3, and 4 of the same branch or group.
7. How do alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes differ?
o Alkanes = single bonds
o Alkenes = double bonds
o Alkynes = triple bonds
8. Examples of physical property questions
o Flammability of alkanes? → Yes, hydrocarbons burn easily.
o Reactivity? → Alkenes and alkynes are more reactive than
alkanes.
9. What are line structures?
o Each point = carbon atom.
o Branches = small lines off the chain.
o Functional groups shown using symbols (–OH, =O, etc.)
10. If there are multiple functional groups?
Follow priority order: Carboxylic acid > Aldehyde > Ketone > Alcohol
> Alkene > Alkyne
🧪 More Challenging Names You Might See
3,3-dimethylhex-1-yne → 6 carbons, triple bond at C1, 2 methyl
groups on C3
4-ethyl-2-methylheptane → 7 carbon chain, ethyl on C4, methyl on
C2
pent-2-en-4-yne → double bond on C2, triple bond on C4
🧠 Final Tips
Always number the chain to give the lowest number to the main
group.
Know suffixes and priorities.
Always double-check bond counts.
Practice naming and drawing often!
“If you can name it, you can draw it. If you can draw it, you
understand it.”
We got this. 💯
