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Common Names Of Alkanes

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As I have explained in my earlier blog about Alkanes and its IUPAC names , common names of alkanes are also as equally important as IUPAC names. So what is actually the difference between a common name and IUPAC name? Common names are nothing but the simplest name yet confusing names given to compounds having complex structures. Luckily common names of alkanes are not that complex because they contain less number of carbon atoms. To understand easily I generally prefer to give my students two rules for understanding this, which are as follows, Count the total number of carbon atoms present in the molecule irrespective of whether it is straight chain or branched chain. Look for the specific branch in the structure which will help you to use the suitable prefixes such as n- , iso- , neo- , tert- and sec- prefixes. What are these prefixes and how to understand them easily? n- stands for normal chain which can be used when alkanes are straight chains. The important point to note here is
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Alkanes And Its IUPAC Names

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Alkanes are the hydrocarbons containing Carbon and Hydrogen attached by a single bond. Alkanes are known as paraffins (Parum =less, affinity = reactivity). General formula of Alkane is C n H 2n+2 IF n = 1 then C 1 H 2x1+2 = CH 4 Methane IF n = 2 then C 2 H 2x2+2 = C 2 H 6 Ethane IF n = 3 then C 2 H 2x2+2 = C 3 H 8 Propane and so on..... IUPAC names of first 20 straight chain alkanes are as follows, Number of C atoms Molecular Formula Name of straight chain Structural Formula 1 CH 4 methane CH 4 2 C 2 H 6 ethane CH 3 -CH 3 3 C 3 H 8 propane CH 3 -CH 2 -CH 3 4 C 4 H 10 n-butane CH 3 -CH 2 -CH 2 -CH 3 5 C 5 H 12 n-pentane CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 6 C 6 H 14 n-hexane CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2
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