State the names of the following organic compounds: a hydrocarbon containing two carbon atoms and one carbon–carbon double bond; a hydrocarbon containing four carbon atoms and only single bonds; an alcohol containing three carbon atoms; a carboxylic acid containing two carbon atoms.

Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620) — 11.2 Naming organic compounds · State · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (4 marks)

a) ethene
b) butane
c) propan-1-ol (propanol)
d) ethanoic acid

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact IGCSE nomenclature (e.g., propan-1-ol, not 1-propanol).
  • Write the full names, not abbreviations, to avoid losing marks.
  • Check that the number of carbons matches the prefix (eth-, prop-, but-).
  • Include the suffix for the functional group (‑ene, ‑ane, ‑ol, ‑oic acid).

Common mistakes

  • Writing ‘ethene’ as ‘ethylene’ (acceptable but not the IGCSE form).
  • For the alcohol, writing ‘propanol’ without the ‘-1-ol’ suffix.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. Hydrocarbon with two carbons and one C=C double bond is ethene
  2. Hydrocarbon with four carbons and only single bonds is butane
  3. Alcohol with three carbon atoms is propan-1-ol / propanol
  4. Carboxylic acid with two carbon atoms is ethanoic acid

Key terms in this question

hydrocarbon · alcohol · carboxylic acid · carbon–carbon double bond

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