Chemistry terminology¶

Last updated 2026-04-09 by Dr John Elfick

Prefixes and suffixes, chemistry¶

Alkane, R-CH₃ Prefix: methyl-, Suffix: -ane (paraffins, saturated hydrocarbons) source

Alkanes: methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane

Alkene R1R2C=CR3R4 (double CC bond =), Prefix: alkenyl-, Suffix: -ene, (no principal functional group) (olefins),

CnH2n, e.g. ethylene, ethene C₂H₄ source

Alkyne R1-C=_CR2 (triple CC bond =_), Prefix: alkynl-, Suffix: -yne (no principal functional group) (acetylenes)

Alkyl, R-, e.g. methyl, ethyl

Amyl group: C₅H₁₁, only as suffix source

-ate suffix

Azide X-N3, Prefix: azido-

Azo (group) N=N

Azo compounds RN=N-R', where R = alkyl group, e.g. methyl, ethyl, andR'= aryl, e.g. phenyl C₆H₅^- source

Azo nitrile RC=N cyano-

Azo pyridyl RC5H4N-

Benzyl group RCH2C6H5-

Bromide, X-Br, Prefix: bromo-

Butane, C₄H₁₀, butyl C₄H₉^-, Stem name: but- source

-C=O: ketone, organic compound containing the group, only as suffix

Carbonyl group (C=O)

Chloride X-Cl, Prefix: chloro-

cis: on same side

Ethane, C₂H₆, ethyl C₂H₅^-, Stem name: eth- source

"flowers" of a metal: oxide of the metal

Fluoride X-F, Prefix: fluoro-

Glyco-: Sugar attached

Heptane, C₇H₁₆, heptyl C₇H₁₅, Stem name: hept- source

Hexane, C₆H₁₄, hexyl C₆H₁₃, Stem name: hex- source

-ide suffix

imide. amide group: CONH₂, only as suffix source

imine primary RC(=NH) imino-, -imine

imine secondary RCH=NR imino-, -imine

-ine: 1. organic base, 2. amino acid, 3. halogen element, only as suffix

iodide X-I, Prefix: iodo-

isocyanate RNCS

-ite suffix

-ium: Suffix: metals or groups with metal-like properties, e.g. ammonium, only as suffix

-lysis: Breaking down, decomposition, only as suffix

Methane, CH₄, methyl CH₃^-, Stem name: meth- source

muriate of a metal: chloride of the metal

NH: imine, a compound of =NH is an imino, only as suffix

-NH₂: amine group, a compound of -NH₂ is amino, amide, only as suffix source

Nitrile X-CN, Prefix: cyano-, Suffix: -nitrile

Nitroso X-NO, Prefix: nitroso-

Nitro X-NO₂, Prefix: nitro- source

Octane, C₈H₁₈, octyl C₈H₁₇, Stem name: oct- source

Ortho-: Regular form.

Para-: Alongside, beyond, near, contrary to

Pentane, C₅H₁₂, pentyl C₅H₁₁^-, Stem name: pent- source

Phenol: organic compounds with functional group -OH, but attached to aromatic ring

Phenol X-C₆H₄-OH, Prefix: hydroxy, Suffix: -ol source

Phenyl group RC6H5

Primary amine: RNH2 amino-, -amine amines

Propane, C₃H₈, propyl C₃H₇^-, Stem name: prop- source

Secondary amine: RNHR, amino-, -amine amines

Sulfide X-SR, Prefix: R-thio-

Sulfonic acid X-SO₂-OH, Prefix: sulfo-, Suffix: -sulfonic acid source

Tertiary amine: RNRR, amino-, -amine

Thio-: A prefix used when one atom is replaced by a sulfur atom

Thiol sulfhydryl group RSH, only as prefixes

Thiol X-SH, Prefix: mercapto, Suffix: -thiol

trans: on opposite sides

trans fatty acid: fatty acid formed as a result of hydrogenation

Table 1.0 Abbreviations, chemistry¶

alc.	alcohol	L	litre
alk.	alkali	M	molar conc. e.g. 2 M (2 molar)
aq.	water	MP	melting point
bp	boiling point	max.	maximum
cryst.	crystals	min.	minimum
decomp.	decomposes	mL	millilitre
del.	deliquescent	mm	millimetre (10 -3 m)
dil.	dilute	non-vol.	non-volatile
F P	freezing point	org.	organic
g / mL	r.d.	ox.	oxidized
g	gram	polyp.	polypropylene
ign.	ignition	ppt.	precipitate
ind.	indicator	PVC	polyvinyl chloride
inorg.	inorganic	soln.	solution
insol.	insoluble	W / V	weight to volume ratio
kg.	kilogram	W / W	weight to weight ratio

Chemistry files

Acid-base indicators

Appendix A Alkaloids

Appendix B Chemicals, Biology preparations

Appendix C Chemicals, Lists of chemicals

Appendix D Polymers and plastics

Appendix E Chemicals, Low-cost chemicals and common substances

Appendix F Alkaloids by name, Aconine to Hypaconitine

Appendix G Phytochemicals

Appendix H Alkaloids by name, Ibogaine to Yunaconitine

Prefixes and suffixes, Chemistry

Prepare

Periodic table

Reactions of

Table of the elements

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