What should I know before I start?

You need a basic understanding of what atoms and covalent bonds are. If you know that carbon usually forms four bonds, you have enough background to follow the logic of the naming rules.

Does this cover every single organic molecule?

It covers the IUPAC rules for the most common functional groups you will see in an introductory organic chemistry course. This includes alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, halides, and carboxylic acids.

Will this help me in a lab setting?

Clear communication is vital in a lab. Learning these rules ensures you can read a bottle label or write a report without confusing one chemical for another.

New

Naming Organic Molecules

Name: Naming Organic Molecules
Availability: InStock

Learn the rules for naming carbon structures so you can read and write chemical names with confidence. This course moves from simple chains to complex molecules with multiple functional groups.

Updated Mar 15, 2026

About this course

Many students approach organic chemistry as a list of names to memorize. They see a complex molecule and try to recall its name from a textbook. The better way is to see the molecule as a construction project. There is a logic to how these names are built, and once you know the grammar, you can name a molecule you have never seen before. We start with the carbon skeleton. You will learn how to find the longest chain and how to number it so the branches get the lowest possible values. Then we add the parts that give molecules their personality: double bonds, halogens, and functional groups like alcohols or acids. By the end, you will understand the priority system that determines which group wins the name. You are not just learning names. You are learning the language of chemistry.

Details

Last updated Mar 15, 2026

3 Units, 9 lessons

1 Project

3 Assessments

Skills you'll gain with this course

Identify the parent chain

Locate the longest continuous carbon chain to establish the foundation of any organic name.

Number branched structures

Apply the lowest-locant rule to ensure every attachment is correctly placed on the carbon skeleton.

Prioritize functional groups

Use the chemical hierarchy to decide which group defines the molecule suffix and overall identity.

Handle geometric isomers

Use specific prefixes to describe the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms around double bonds.

Syllabus

3 Units • 9 Lessons • 1 Project • 3 Assessments

Ways To Learn Included

Every lesson enables you to learn in a variety of ways.

3 min read

587 words

These gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, play a crucial role in regulating Earth's temperature. But what exactly are they, and how do they work? Let's find out.

Read

Carbon Dioxide

Flashcards

Quiz

What is the primary greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat?

Carbon Dioxide

Locked In

Great job! That's the correct answer.

Quiz

Arcade

FAQ

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