Name |
General Formula |
Characteristic |
Example |
Alkane |
CnH2n+2 |
single covalent bonds only |
Methane: CH4 |
Alkene |
CnH2n |
1 double bond |
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but-2-ene: C4H8
|
Alkyne |
CnH2n-2 |
1 triple bond |
prop-1-yne: C3H4
|
Cycloalkane |
CnH2n |
ring structure, single bonds |
cyclohexane: C6H12
|
Cycloalkene |
CnH2n-2 |
ring structure 1 double bonds |
cyclobutene: C4H6
|
Alkadiene |
CnH2n-2 |
two double bonds |
buta-1,3-diene: C4H6
|
Aromatic |
CnH2n-6 |
benzene ring |
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toluene (1-methylbenzene).
|
Ether |
R-O-R' |
Oxygen single bonded in chain |
IUPAC Name: methoxyethane
|
Alcohol |
R-OH |
Hydroxyl in chain. |
Hexane-1,2-diol |
Aldehyde |
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double bonded oxygen always at the end of chain |
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|
Ketone |
 |
double bonded oxygen in the chain |

butan-2-one
|
Carboxyllic acids |
O
‖
RCOH
|
double bonded oxygen and an OH group making a carboxyl. Always at the end. |
acetic acid (IUPAC: ethanoic acid)
|
Esters |
O
‖
RCOR'
|
single bonded and double bonded oxygens separating two
chains |
ethyl acetate (IUPAC: ethyl ethanoate)
|