IUPAC Name of C₂H₅Cl | chloroethane
What is the IUPAC name of C₂H₅Cl?
The IUPAC name of C₂H₅Cl is chloroethane. It is a halide with a 2-carbon parent chain (ethane) with a chloro at position 1 substituent.
| Formula | C₂H₅Cl |
| IUPAC Name | chloroethane |
| Compound Class | Halide |
| Parent Chain | ethane (2 carbons) |
| Substituents | chloro at C1 |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
Step 1: Identify the Parent Chain
The longest continuous carbon chain in C₂H₅Cl contains 2 carbon atoms, giving the parent name ethane. The parent chain is numbered to give the halogen substituent the lowest possible locant.
Step 2: Number and Name Substituents
Number the parent chain so that substituents receive the lowest possible locants. chloroethane has one substituent:
- chloro at carbon 1
Step 3: Assemble the IUPAC Name
Combine the substituent locants and names (in alphabetical order) as prefixes to the parent chain name. If two or more identical substituents are present, use the multiplying prefixes di-, tri-, tetra-, etc. The complete IUPAC name is chloroethane.
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