How do I draw and name Carboxylic Acids?

Stem

Always find the longest carbon chain that will result in simpler branches coming off of it.  The longest carbon chain is what you use to name the stem.  In the example on the right, the stem

Prefix

Now that you have found the longest (usable) carbon chain, you must name that chain.  The name is based on the number of carbons (as shown in the table on the right), so in this case 7 carbons means that this molecule will be a heptane.

Suffix

The suffix of the molecule's name is based on what appears in the stem.  If it is an alkane it would still have "ane" added to the end.  For a carboxylic acid, the "e" at the end of the parent name is removed and replaced with "oic acid".  For example, "octane" would drop the "e" and become "octanoic acid"

Functional Groups

Once you have named the spine (the longest carbon chain with the simplest functional groups) you are now able to start naming those functional groups.  The functional group's names are similar to how the stem is named.  The biggest difference is that the suffix of the name changes, instead of methane, the functional group is called methyl.

The second part of the prefix, which names the functional groups, is based on a numbering system.  In order to get the number in "3-methyl", the first step is to number the stem, counting the carbons one-by-one.  The direction that you number will result in the lowest number in front of the methyl, so "3-methyl" instead of "4-methyl".

This video shows you how to name molecules with -COOH on the ends.  It will include how to number the carbons in the parent, starting with the carboxylic acid functional group.

Self Check

Complete the following,
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