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Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons in which all of the carbon–
carbon bonds are single bonds.
Unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons that have at least one double or triple bond (they are either alkenes or alkynes).
Organic compounds are conveniently classified according to the functional
groups (group of atom or atoms that is substituted for hydrogen or a hydrocarbon).
Table 1.4 shows the main classes of organic compounds. The usual name for a
group of atoms resulting from an alkane is an alkyl group. The name of an alkyl
group results from the name of the alkane by adding the suffix -yl. Thus, the –CH 3
fragment is a methyl group, the –CH 2 CH 3 fragment is an ethyl group, and so forth.
Groups of atoms derived from aromatic hydrocarbons are aryl groups. The –
C 6 H 5 fragment is called a phenyl group. Alkyl and aryl groups are often abbreviated as R.
Table 1.4 Main classes of organic compounds
Class
Common suffix/
prefix
General formula
Example
Hydrocarbons
Alkanes
-ane
RH
Ethane, methane
Alkenes
-ene
RR′C=CR″R′″
Ethylene
Alkynes
(−yne)
RC ≡ CR′
Acetylene (ethyne)
Arenes
-ene
ArH
Benzene
Halogen-containing compounds
Alkyl halides -halide (halo-)
RX
Ethyl chloride, methyl chloride,
ethylene bromide
Aryl halides
HaloArX
Chlorobenzene
Oxygen-containing compounds
Alcohols
-ol
ROH
Methyl alcohol (methanol)
Phenols
-ol
ArOH
Phenol, resorcinol
Ethers
Ether
ROR′
Diethyl ether
Aldehydes
-aldehyde (−al) RCHO
Acetaldehyde (ethanal),
benzaldehyde
Ketones
-one
RR′C=O
Acetone (2-propanone)
Carboxylic
acids
-ic acid (−oic
acid)
RCO 2 H
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid), benzoic
acid
Carboxylic acid derivatives
Esters
-ate (oate)
RCO 2 R′
Methyl acetate (methyl ethanoate)
Amides
-amide
RCONHR′
N-methyl acetamide
Nitrogen-containing compounds
Amines
-amine
RNH 2 , RNHR′,
RNR′R″
Ethylamine, aniline, benzylamine
Nitriles
-nitrile
RC ≡ N
Acetonitrile
Nitro
compounds
-nitro
ArNO 2
Nitrobenzene
Note: Ar represents aryl group, R indicates alkyl group, X indicates halogen
1 Fundamentals of Chemistry for Environmental and Medical Professionals
Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons in which all of the carbon–
carbon bonds are single bonds.
Unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons that have at least one double or triple bond (they are either alkenes or alkynes).
Organic compounds are conveniently classified according to the functional
groups (group of atom or atoms that is substituted for hydrogen or a hydrocarbon).
Table 1.4 shows the main classes of organic compounds. The usual name for a
group of atoms resulting from an alkane is an alkyl group. The name of an alkyl
group results from the name of the alkane by adding the suffix -yl. Thus, the –CH 3
fragment is a methyl group, the –CH 2 CH 3 fragment is an ethyl group, and so forth.
Groups of atoms derived from aromatic hydrocarbons are aryl groups. The –
C 6 H 5 fragment is called a phenyl group. Alkyl and aryl groups are often abbreviated as R.
Table 1.4 Main classes of organic compounds
Class
Common suffix/
prefix
General formula
Example
Hydrocarbons
Alkanes
-ane
RH
Ethane, methane
Alkenes
-ene
RR′C=CR″R′″
Ethylene
Alkynes
(−yne)
RC ≡ CR′
Acetylene (ethyne)
Arenes
-ene
ArH
Benzene
Halogen-containing compounds
Alkyl halides -halide (halo-)
RX
Ethyl chloride, methyl chloride,
ethylene bromide
Aryl halides
HaloArX
Chlorobenzene
Oxygen-containing compounds
Alcohols
-ol
ROH
Methyl alcohol (methanol)
Phenols
-ol
ArOH
Phenol, resorcinol
Ethers
Ether
ROR′
Diethyl ether
Aldehydes
-aldehyde (−al) RCHO
Acetaldehyde (ethanal),
benzaldehyde
Ketones
-one
RR′C=O
Acetone (2-propanone)
Carboxylic
acids
-ic acid (−oic
acid)
RCO 2 H
Acetic acid (ethanoic acid), benzoic
acid
Carboxylic acid derivatives
Esters
-ate (oate)
RCO 2 R′
Methyl acetate (methyl ethanoate)
Amides
-amide
RCONHR′
N-methyl acetamide
Nitrogen-containing compounds
Amines
-amine
RNH 2 , RNHR′,
RNR′R″
Ethylamine, aniline, benzylamine
Nitriles
-nitrile
RC ≡ N
Acetonitrile
Nitro
compounds
-nitro
ArNO 2
Nitrobenzene
Note: Ar represents aryl group, R indicates alkyl group, X indicates halogen
1 Fundamentals of Chemistry for Environmental and Medical Professionals