IUPAC Name of CH₃Cl | chloromethane
What is the IUPAC name of CH₃Cl?
The IUPAC name of CH₃Cl is chloromethane. It is a halide with a 1-carbon parent chain (methane) with a chloro at position 1 substituent.
| Formula | CH₃Cl |
| IUPAC Name | chloromethane |
| Compound Class | Halide |
| Parent Chain | methane (1 carbons) |
| Substituents | chloro at C1 |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
Step 1: Identify the Parent Chain
The longest continuous carbon chain in CH₃Cl contains 1 carbon atoms, giving the parent name methane. 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. chloromethane 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 chloromethane.
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