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Home » Naming Organic Compounds Tutorial Video Series

Naming Organic Compounds Tutorial Video Series

Organic Chemistry Functional Groups Cheat Sheet
Organic Chemistry Functional Groups Cheat Sheet

Naming Organic Compounds Tutorial Video Series by Leah4sciNomenclature, or the naming of organic compounds, is a key requirement in any organic chemistry course. You will start out with the basics, being tested on naming molecules and drawing molecules from a given name.

But it doesn't stop there. As you proceed with your organic chemistry course you will be tested on reactions and mechanisms, but may find yourself faced with the name of a molecule instead of its drawing. No matter how many times you practiced a mechanism, if you don't know your starting molecule, you won't be able to answer related questions.

Despite the importance of nomenclature, this topic is often rushed in the orgo curriculum and textbook. That's why I created this 21-video series to take you through naming step by step using my Puzzle Piece Approach. This will help you find patterns and see the logic with every additional concept and rule.

YouTube likes and shares are greatly appreciated for every video 🙂

Make sure to download my free Functional Groups Cheat Sheet, and for even more practice, test your knowledge with my Naming Organic Compounds Practice Quiz.

Included in this series:

Click on the specific videos listed as follows or on the icons below:

  • Pre-Naming Video – Organic Chemistry Functional Groups
  • Introduction To IUPAC Nomenclature
  • Naming:
    • Alkanes – Straight Chain, Branched Chain, Branched Substitutents (isopropyl, isobutyl, tertbutyl +), Cylcoalkanes & BicycloAlkanes
    • Alkenes, Alkynes, Enynes (alkene + alkyne on same compound), Alkyl Halides
    • Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Epoxides & Oxiranes, Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids, Esters
    • Amines, Amides
    • Aromatic Compounds (+ Benzene v Phenyl), Ortho/Meta/Para Substituents on Benzene

Organic chemistry functional groups video by leah fischPre-Naming Video – Functional Groups

You must first recognize functional groups in order to name molecules. These groups influence reactivity as you progress in the course. This video will take you through all the common groups with tips & mnemonics to help you recognize and differentiate between the tricky ones. Try my Functional Groups Practice Quiz!

Video 1 – Introduction To IUPACNaming Organic Compounds IUPAC Tutorial Video Leah4sci

The rules for naming organic compounds are tedious and can become overwhelming fast. The first video shows you how to break down the name of an organic molecule using my ‘puzzle piece approach'. This video is a MUST for breaking down nomenclature in a simple and fun-to-solve manner.

Video 2 – Naming Straight Chain Alkaneshttps://leah4sci.com/naming-straight-chain-alkanes/

This video teaches you how to name/recognize a simple or straight-chain alkane. Including examples of straight chain alkanes presented in condensed molecular formula, structural formula, and line or skeletal structure.

Video 3 – Naming Branched Chain Alkanes

Naming Branched Chain Alkanes Tutorial Leah4sciThe complexity starts when we add a ‘branch' or carbon substituent. This videos teaches you how to tackle molecules with one or more alkyl substituents/branches. Examples include single substituent to multiple same and varied branches

Video 4 – Naming Branched Substituents – isopropyl, isobutyl, tertbutyl, and more

Naming Branched Substituents isopropyl isobutyl tertbutyl Video Tutorial by Leah4sciYou may find a molecule containing a branched branch, or a substituent containing its own substituents. These can get tricky to name, but there are accepted ‘shortcuts,' explained in this video! Examples include ispropyl, isobutyl, secbutyl, and tert butyl substituents.

Video 5 – Naming Cycloalkanes & Bicyclo Alkanes

Naming Branched Substituents isopropyl isobutyl tertbutyl Video Tutorial by Leah4sciCycloalkanes have the first and last carbon of the chain fused. One cycloalkane follows the same naming pattern with a few differences. However, more than one fused ring has a drastically different naming pattern. Examples include single, fused, & substituted cyclic compounds.

Video 6 – Naming Alkenes

Naming Alkenes Video Tutorial by Leah4sci OrgoA single pi bond introduced into the organic compound calls for a slight change in the naming pattern. This video shows you how to name with one or more double bonds while still following my ‘puzzle piece' approach.

Learn more about Cis Trans and E Z Geometric Isomers here!

Video 7 – Naming Alkynes

Naming Alkynes Video Tutorial by Leah4sci OrganicWhen your compound contains two pi bonds between the same set of carbon atoms, you have an alkyne. Naming an alkyne is similar to alkenes, with a slight change in the ‘last name' of the molecule.

Video 8 – Naming Enynes (alkene + alkyne on same compound)

Naming Enynes Video Tutorial Organic Chemistry Leah4sci

If a molecule contains alkenes or alkynes, you know what to do from Videos 6 & 7. But what do you do when the molecule contains BOTH! This is explained with a few examples in the ene + yne = enyne video.

*Organic Chemistry Functional Groups*

Videos 1-8 focus on the naming basics, videos 9-21 focus on naming functional groups that show up within organic compounds. If you're not fully confident with the name or structure of the different functional groups – grab my FREE Organic Chemistry Functional Groups Cheat Sheet

Video 9 – Naming Alkyl Halides

Naming Alkyl Halides Video Tutorial by Leah4sci

Video 10 – Naming Alcohols

Naming Alcohols Video Tutorial Leah4sci Organic Chemistry

Video 11 – Naming Thiols

Naming Thiols Video Tutorial by Leah4sci Orgo

Video 12 – Naming Ethers

Nomenclature Ethers Video Tutorial Leah Fisch Organic Chemistry

Video 13 – Naming Epoxides and Oxiranes

Naming Epoxides and Oxiranes Video Tutorial by Leah4sci

Video 14 – Naming Aldehydes

Naming Aldehydes Tutorial by Leah4sci Orgo

Video 15 – Naming Ketones

Naming Ketones Tutorial Video Leah4sci Orgo

Video 16 – Naming Carboxylic Acids

Naming Carboxylic Acids Tutorial by Leah4sci Orgo

Video 17 – Naming Esters

 Naming Esters Tutorial Video Leah4sci Orgo

Video 18 – Naming Amines

Naming Amines Tutorial Leah4sci Orgo

Video 19 – Naming Amides

Naming Amides Tutorial Video Leah4sci Orgo

Video 20 – Naming Aromatic Compounds (+ Benzene vs Phenyl)
Naming Aromatic Compounds Benzene Phenyl Tutorial Leah4sci Orgo

Video 21 – Naming Ortho Meta and Para Substituents on Benzene

Naming Ortho Meta Para Substituents Benzene Tutorial Video by Leah4sci Orgo

Looking for how to name Cis/Trans or E/Z compounds? Read HERE!

Or, need even more naming practice? Watch the video below, and then continue on by trying my Naming Organic Compounds Practice Quiz (with PDF solutions).

This concludes my Naming Organic Compounds Series. I cover even more naming practice in my membership site: Click HERE for the Organic Chemistry Study Hall!

<– Back to the Organic Chemistry Syllabus Companion
to see what to study next!

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Orgo Syllabus Companion
- Gen Chem Foundation for Orgo
- Orgo Basics Foundation
- Resonance Structures
- Naming Organic Compounds
- Acids and Bases
- Newman Projections
- Chair Conformations
- Chirality and Stereochemistry
- Fischer Projections
- Intro to Mechanisms
- Alkene Reactions
- Alkyne Reactions
- Free Radical Reactions
- Substitution Elimination Reactions
- Diels Alder
- Aromaticity & Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)
- Alcohols
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