Theory:Nomenclature:Straight Hydrocarbons

Brainchild of Yunzhong Hou

Ready to embark on a quest to find an improved version of chemical nomenclature? You've come to the right place. This version uses totally different symbols from what chemists are used to seeing, but (as with the Scenario:Nomenclature page) it works, and I hereby assert that it works even better than the other one I had devised some weeks ago.

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Methane
We start with methane, the simplest of hydrocarbons. Here's rule #1:

Rule #1: Alkane chains are represented by the letter C, no matter the length. If the first symbol in the name is a plain C, then it can be omitted. Methyl groups and methane always has a 1 as the superscript to the right of the C.

Rule #2: Hydrogen is never counted.

Methane is pronounced "one" in this nomenclature.


 * [[Image:Methane.jpg|thumb|227px|The C can be omitted, leaving only the superscript 1. Note that hydrogen is never shown.]]
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Alkanes
Rule #3: The length is written numerically to the right of the C as a superscript.

Ethane is pronounced "two" in this nomenclature.


 * [[Image:Ethane.jpg|thumb|227px|The superscript changes to 2. Note that in subsequent compounds we will refer to a 2 superscript for ethyl branches.]]
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Alkenes and Alkynes
Rule #4: Alkenes and alkynes are noted using modifiers as well, with alkenes modifier separate from alkynes modifier.

Rule #5: Alkenes have central character of =, and alkynes have central character of E. In writing the modifier, precede the central character with the subscript and superscript at the former and latter ends of the double/triple bonds. Multiple double bonds/multiple triple bonds can be placed in the same modifier, separated by commas.

Rule #6: Groups that define the compound generally come at the end of the compound name unless doing so is not possible. In this way, all compounds with the same functional group can easily be spotted because their endings are similar.

Rule #7: As double and triple bonds define hydrocarbons in the absense of functional groups, we place them at the end of the name.


 * [[Image:UN04.JPG|thumb|227px|Bond numbers are added on--here's an instance in which modifiers do not add extra atoms.]]
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