Naming Carbonyl Compounds

Edexcel A-level ChemistryCarbonyl CompoundsLesson 2 of 11

Carbonyl compounds are named using IUPAC rules, based on the longest carbon chain that contains the C=O group.

Aldehydes use the suffix -al. The carbonyl carbon is always at the end of the chain, so it is always carbon 1 and no number is needed.
• HCHO: methanal
• CH₃CHO: ethanal
• CH₃CH₂CHO: propanal
• CH₃CH₂CH₂CHO: butanal

Ketones use the suffix -one. The chain is numbered from the end that gives the carbonyl carbon the lowest number, and this number goes before -one when it is needed.
• CH₃COCH₃: propanone (the C=O can only be on carbon 2)

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Naming Carbonyl Compounds

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