| Atomic grouping |
 |
| Suffix | -oic acid (two words) |
| Prefix | carboxy (includes the carbon) |
| Position in chain | only at
end of chain |
| General formula |
CnH2nO2 |
| Common family name |
carboxylic acids |
Notes:
- Since the suffix (-oic acid) has an initial vowel, the terminal -e of the alkane name is
dropped before the suffix is added.
- For the first time the IUPAC name consists of two words,
there being a space before the word 'acid'.
- The carbonyl group in the alkanoic acid family is
always at the end of a carbon chain and as such is always position 1. As
with the alkanals and alkanamides, the locant (1) is omitted.
pentanoic acid, NOT pentan-1-oic acid.
Examples :
| Structure | IUPAC Name | Model |
|---|
 |
methanoic acid
(aka formic acid) |
|
 |
ethanoic acid
(aka acetic acid) |
|
 |
propanoic acid |
|
 |
octanoic acid |
|
 |
(Z)-hex-2-enoic acid |
|
 |
6-methylheptanoic acid |
|
 |
3-chloropentanoic acid |
|
 |
hexanedioic acid |
|
 |
6-hydroxy-4-oxononanoic acid |
|
|