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Intro to Alkanes


Lesson by
Magoosh Expert

Summary
This content provides an in-depth exploration of Alkanes and Substitutions in organic chemistry, focusing on the identification, naming, and prioritization of carbon-hydrogen compounds and their substituents.
  • Alkanes, also known as paraffins, are fundamental carbon-hydrogen compounds connected by single bonds, with the first twelve (C1-C12) being crucial to memorize.
  • Naming alkanes involves identifying the longest chain, naming and numbering substituents with priority, and adding isomer names, with a focus on keeping numbers as low as possible for high priority substituents.
  • Substituents are prioritized from carboxylic acids to ethers, with specific common alkyl substituents like iso-propyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, iso-butyl, and neo-pentyl being essential to recognize and draw.
  • The method for naming involves a systematic approach that can significantly narrow down potential answers by correctly identifying the longest chain and the placement of substituents.
Chapters
00:08
Introduction to Alkanes
01:08
Naming Alkanes
02:01
Substituent Prioritization
02:32
Common Alkyl Substituents