Learn
Games

8.6.1 - Nomenclature

Interactive Audio Lesson

Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.

Introduction to Carboxylic Acid Nomenclature

Unlock Audio Lesson

Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson

Teacher
Teacher

Today, we'll discuss the nomenclature of carboxylic acids. Do any of you know what a carboxylic acid is?

Student 1
Student 1

I think it has a -COOH group?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The -COOH group is called a carboxyl group. Now, let's dive into how we name these acids. First, we have common names that often relate to their natural sources. What are some examples you know?

Student 2
Student 2

Like acetic acid in vinegar?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Acetic acid is derived from 'acetum', which means vinegar in Latin. These names are intuitive but can be inconsistent. Now let’s move on to IUPAC naming.

Student 3
Student 3

How are the IUPAC names formed?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! In IUPAC nomenclature, you change the ending ‘-e’ of the parent alkane to ‘-oic acid’. For example, ethane turns into ethanoic acid for acetic acid. Remember that the carboxylic carbon is carbon one.

Student 4
Student 4

So, what happens if there are more than one -COOH group?

Teacher
Teacher

Good observation! You would use prefixes like ‘di-‘ or ‘tri-‘. For instance, oxalic acid is named ethanedioic acid. It has two carboxyl groups. Any other questions?

Student 1
Student 1

No, that makes sense!

Teacher
Teacher

Let’s recap: Carboxylic acids can be named using common names or IUPAC names, and IUPAC is systematic based on alkane names, replacing ‘-e’ with ‘-oic acid’.

Structures and Examples

Unlock Audio Lesson

Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson

Teacher
Teacher

Now that we understand nomenclature, let's look at the structure of carboxylic acids. Who can tell me what the carboxyl group looks like?

Student 2
Student 2

I think it's a carbon double bonded to an oxygen and single bonded to a hydroxyl group?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The carbon in the carboxyl group is indeed bonded to two oxygens, making it a polar functional group. Now, can anyone think of a common carboxylic acid and its structure?

Student 3
Student 3

What about formic acid, HCOOH?

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect! The structure showcases the carboxyl group well. Now, in your handouts, we have a table of several carboxylic acids with their common and IUPAC names.

Student 4
Student 4

Can we go over those examples?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, let’s look at works like butyric acid or butanoic acid. Their structural representation is crucial for understanding their properties.

Student 1
Student 1

So, what if a carboxylic acid has more than one functional group?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! Such compounds are systematically named by indicating the positions of each carboxyl group and will have names like 'dicarboxylic acid.'

Properties and Importance

Unlock Audio Lesson

Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson

Teacher
Teacher

Now that we've covered naming and structure, let’s talk about the properties of carboxylic acids. Why do you think they have higher boiling points compared to similar molecular weight hydrocarbons?

Student 2
Student 2

Is it because of hydrogen bonding?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Carboxylic acids can form hydrogen bonds, which elevate their boiling points. Their polar nature also allows for greater solubility in water than hydrocarbons.

Student 3
Student 3

Are they used in real life too?

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! Carboxylic acids are versatile and used in food, textiles, and healthcare. For example, acetic acid is a key ingredient in vinegar.

Student 4
Student 4

That's interesting! Are there more examples of natural sources?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, definitely! Butyric acid is derived from rancid butter, and you should remember that many of these acids were named for their origins!

Student 1
Student 1

So knowing their names is important because it gives insight into their properties?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Understanding nomenclature provides clarity in studying their physical and chemical properties.

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section discusses the nomenclature of carboxylic acids, detailing both common and IUPAC naming conventions.

Standard

The section outlines how carboxylic acids are named using common names derived from their natural sources and IUPAC names formed from alkane names. It also describes the structure of carboxylic acids and provides examples to illustrate both naming conventions.

Detailed

Nomenclature of Carboxyl Group

Carboxylic acids are important organic compounds characterized by the carboxyl group (-COOH). They are known both by common names and IUPAC names. Common names often end with ‘-ic acid’ and derive from Latin or Greek roots that indicate their natural sources (e.g., formic acid from ants, acetic acid from vinegar). In IUPAC nomenclature, carboxylic acids are named by replacing the ‘-e’ ending of the parent alkane with ‘-oic acid’.

The carboxylic carbon is always numbered as carbon one, and when there are multiple carboxyl groups, prefixes like ‘di-‘ or ‘tri-‘ are used to indicate the count of these groups. For instance, oxalic acid is named ethanedioic acid, indicating it contains two carboxyl groups. This systematic approach allows for clear identification of these compounds and understanding of their structure.

Youtube Videos

Plus Two Chemistry - Mark Room - Aldehydes , Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Xylem Plus Two
Plus Two Chemistry - Mark Room - Aldehydes , Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Xylem Plus Two
Trick To Remember Formula of Carbonyl Functional Groups
Trick To Remember Formula of Carbonyl Functional Groups
Aldehydes,Ketones & Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 8 One Shot | New NCERT CBSE
Aldehydes,Ketones & Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry Chapter 8 One Shot | New NCERT CBSE
Aldehyde, Ketone and Carboxylic Acid: Structure, Properties and Reactions // HSC Chemistry
Aldehyde, Ketone and Carboxylic Acid: Structure, Properties and Reactions // HSC Chemistry
Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acid FULL CHAPTER | Class 12th Organic Chemistry | PhysicsWallah
Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acid FULL CHAPTER | Class 12th Organic Chemistry | PhysicsWallah
Aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids
Aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids
class 12 | chemistry | aldehyde, ketone and carboxylic acid | all name reactions | CBSE | JEE | NEET
class 12 | chemistry | aldehyde, ketone and carboxylic acid | all name reactions | CBSE | JEE | NEET
Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic acids One Shot | Class12 Chemistry Chapter 12 | CBSE JEE NEET
Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic acids One Shot | Class12 Chemistry Chapter 12 | CBSE JEE NEET
Class 12 Organic chemistry All important reactions
Class 12 Organic chemistry All important reactions

Audio Book

Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.

Common Names of Carboxylic Acids

Unlock Audio Book

Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book

Since carboxylic acids are amongst the earliest organic compounds to be isolated from nature, a large number of them are known by their common names. The common names end with the suffix –ic acid and have been derived from Latin or Greek names of their natural sources. For example, formic acid (HCOOH) was first obtained from red ants (Latin: formica means ant), acetic acid (CH3COOH) from vinegar (Latin: acetum, means vinegar), butyric acid (CH3CH2CH2COOH) from rancid butter (Latin: butyrum, means butter).

Detailed Explanation

Carboxylic acids are often named based on their origins, which leads to common names that generally end with ‘-ic acid’. For instance, formic acid comes from ants, acetic acid from vinegar, and butyric acid from rancid butter. These names are influenced by the Latin or Greek roots of the substances from which they were first isolated, making them not only practical but also historically significant.

Examples & Analogies

To relate this to something more everyday, think of how we name fruits based on where they come from. For example, 'apple' is a common name regardless of the variety, much like 'acetic acid' is a common name for vinegar-related compounds. Just as different apples may taste different, different carboxylic acids can have distinct properties yet share a name based on their origin.

IUPAC Naming of Carboxylic Acids

Unlock Audio Book

Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book

In the IUPAC system, aliphatic carboxylic acids are named by replacing the ending –e in the name of the corresponding alkane with –oic acid. In numbering the carbon chain, the carboxylic carbon is numbered one. For naming compounds containing more than one carboxyl group, the alkyl chain leaving carboxyl groups is numbered and the number of carboxyl groups is indicated by adding the multiplicative prefix, dicarboxylic acid, tricarboxylic acid, etc. to the name of parent alkyl chain. The position of –COOH groups are indicated by the arabic numeral before the multiplicative prefix.

Detailed Explanation

According to IUPAC rules, to properly name a carboxylic acid, you start with the name of the corresponding alkane and replace the '-e' ending with '-oic acid'. The carbon atom that bears the carboxyl (-COOH) group is always designated as carbon number one in the chain. When there are multiple carboxyl groups, prefixes like 'di-' or 'tri-' indicate their number. For example, a compound with two carboxyl groups would be named 'dicarboxylic acid'. This naming ensures clarity in communication about the molecule's structure.

Examples & Analogies

Think of naming a family. If a person has multiple siblings, you might say they are the 'first-born', 'second-born', and so on. Similarly, in naming acids, if there are multiple -COOH groups, we specify their counts (like 'dicarboxylic acid') to give more detail about the structure.

Examples of Carboxylic Acids and Their Names

Unlock Audio Book

Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book

Some of the carboxylic acids along with their common and IUPAC names are listed in Table 8.3.

Structure Common name IUPAC name
HCOOH Formic acid Methanoic acid
CH3COOH Acetic acid Ethanoic acid
CH3CH2COOH Propionic acid Propanoic acid
CH3CH2CH2COOH Butyric acid Butanoic acid

Detailed Explanation

The table presents some well-known carboxylic acids, showing both their common names and their IUPAC names. For instance, formic acid is also known as methanoic acid according to IUPAC nomenclature. This dual naming system reflects both the historical context and the systematic approach to organic chemistry.

Examples & Analogies

This is similar to how some people might call a soda 'pop' or 'soda' depending on where they are from. Just like these regional differences in drink names can lead to confusion, the two naming conventions for carboxylic acids can also give insight into the structural nature of the molecules.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Common Names: Carboxylic acids often have common names derived from their sources.

  • IUPAC Names: Name changes involve replacing ‘-e’ from the parent alkane name with ‘-oic acid’.

  • Carboxyl Structure: Structure consists of a carbonyl (C=O) attached to a hydroxyl (-OH).

  • Dicarboxylic Acids: Compounds containing two carboxyl groups are named with a prefix indicating quantity.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Formic Acid: Known as Methanoic acid, derived from ants.

  • Acetic Acid: Known as Ethanoic acid, derived from vinegar.

  • Butyric Acid: Known as Butanoic acid, derived from rancid butter.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • In the kitchen, vinegar flies, Ethanoic acid, oh so wise.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once a chef discovered that vinegar, known for its sour taste, contained ethanoic acid, crucial for flavoring dishes.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember the carboxyl group: C-O-O-H! Think of COOH as the sound you make when sour!

🎯 Super Acronyms

C-U-P

  • Common names - Use natural sources
  • IUPAC names - Replace ‘-e’ with ‘-oic’.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Carboxylic Acid

    Definition:

    An organic compound containing a carboxyl group (-COOH).

  • Term: Carboxyl Group

    Definition:

    A functional group composed of a carbonyl and a hydroxyl group.

  • Term: IUPAC Naming

    Definition:

    The systematic approach to naming organic compounds according to established rules.

  • Term: Dicarboxylic Acid

    Definition:

    An organic compound containing two carboxyl groups.

  • Term: Oxalic Acid

    Definition:

    A dicarboxylic acid commonly used in cleaning agents and as a rust remover.