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In Organic Chemistry What Is The Difference Between A Suffix And A Prefix When Naming Compounds

In terms of Naming compounds in chemistry, what is the differences of these prefixes and suffixes?

Per- means that the central atom in the compound is most highly oxygenated, or that it has the highest oxidation number. Hypo- means least highly oxygenated or lowest oxidation number. For example, the oxy acids of chlorine:

HClO4 - Perchloric acid
HClO3 - Chloric acid
HClO2 - Chlorous acid
HClO - Hypochlorous acid

Per- also has the meaning of two oxygen atoms linked -O-O-. For example, hydrogen peroxide, H2O2.

-Ate is the suffix for a salt of an -ic acid. Sulfuric acid ===> sodium sulfate. -Ite is the suffix for a salt of an -ous acid. Nitrous acid ===> sodium nitrite. -Ide -is the suffix for the salt of a hydro- -ic acid. Hydrochloric acid ===> sodium chloride.

In organic chemistry, what is the difference between a suffix and a prefix when naming compounds?

This is a very good question and alas the answer isn't that simple.
Think of it this way. The highest priority functional group is named as the suffix. However, when you have a potential suffix that is not highest priority, it is 'demoted' to a prefix. Not the exact translation but that's how I like to think about it.
For example, alcohol has the 'ol' suffix. But with a carboxylic acid which is higher, alcohol becomes 'hydroxy' as a prefix. To really learn this you must go through the naming rules for each group. I have a Youtube video series on naming that will help linked below. Study the functional group videos to see examples of this:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaySzQJTCO1ljKT9Qc1J04EB7FRwZyXoT

In organic chemistry, what is the difference between a suffix and a prefix when naming compounds?

CH3--CH2-OH can be written as Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol. Both are correct.

I get the "ethyl" prefix because their is a chain of two carbons, and "suffix" alcohol because the compound has an OH group at the end of it. I can combine the two and get: Ethanol which is ultimately correct.

Acetone is a kind of keytone....that's where the "suffix" tone comes from. It's actually IUPAC named Propanone, meaning that there is 3 carbons in the carbon chain hence, the prefix, "propyl" that has been slightly edited.

Usually the carbon chain is included in the prefix.

This is what hexane looks like:
http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress....

This is what "cyclohexane looks like" The prefix "cyclo" means that a ring is formed.

http://dl.clackamas.cc.or.us/ch106-05/im...

The carbon chain number and whether or not the compound forms a ring can be prefixes.

Suffixes tell you all about the functional groups: Alkane, Alkene, Alkyne, Aromatic ring, Halokane, alchohol, Ether, Amine, Aldehyde, Keytone, Carboxylic acid, Ester, Amid, and Nitrile.

If the compound is really complex (like Vitamin A) it has it's own name:

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/%40api/deki/...

If substituents are present (like 2-Ethyl Pentane), naming compounds becomes more complicated. I can't teach you that, though.

Naming organic compounds, functional groups, esters?

Hello, you know functional groups, for example, alkanes and the ending is a suffix - ane. Well what is the prefix or suffix for an ester? Like if you were naming an organic compound. Thanks

Chemistry question about compound suffixes?

I need to find a webpage the explain the rules of when something ends in ate, ide, and ite like carbonate carbonite carbonite or sulfate, sulfide, sulfite...if you could help me out I would really appreciate it because lately in chemistry we have having to write the formulas from the names and im confused about it.

Help in Chemistry prefixes and suffixes?

prefixes: eg.
mono = chloride
di = dichloride
tri = trichloride
tetra =tetrachloride
penta = pentachloride
hexa ' '
octa ' '
nona ' '
deca " "


eg. dihydrogen monoxide = H2O / 2 hydrogen one oxygen

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