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Nomenclature

Nomenclature rules are complex. Here we will only name relatively simple molecules. Look at the following examples of representative molecules bearing carboxylic acid groups.

Nomenclature of carboxylic acids▶ Watch the video on YouTube
  1. The carboxylic acid function is always, with very few exceptions, the main functional group.
  2. As usual, one should select the longest chain containing the carboxylic acid group and as many of the remaining functions as possible.
  3. The suffix "-oic acid" or "-carboxylic acid" is added to the name of the main chain.
  4. The numbering of the chain starts at the carboxylic acid group.
Examples of carboxylic acid nomenclature: 2-chloropropanoic acid, 3-butenoic acid, 2-(1-methylethyl)-3,4,5-trimethylhexanoic acid, 2,4-bis(1-methylethyl)-3-methyl-4-pentenoic acid, 2-(1-methylethyl)-3,5-dimethyl-4-oxohexanoic acid, 2-bromo-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 2-(2-formylcyclopentyl)acetic acid and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)