Example 1:<\/strong> Name this molecule.<\/p>\n Step 1: Count the carbons in the chain. In this case, we have 9.<\/p>\n Step 2: Refer to the table in this post<\/a>, which gives the name of the chain based on its number of carbons.<\/p>\n Step 3: Counting from the end of the chain closest to the OH<\/strong>, decide which carbon the OH<\/strong> is on. In this case, OH<\/strong> is on the fourth carbon.<\/p>\n Step 4: The name starts with the number of the carbon that has the OH<\/strong>, followed by a hyphen, then the chain name from Step 1. At the end of the chain, replace -ane<\/em> with -ol<\/em>, which means the molecule is an alcohol.<\/p>\n In our example, the OH<\/strong> is on the fourth carbon. The chain has nine carbons, suggesting nonane. Therefore, our molecule is 4-nonanol.<\/p>\n OH<\/strong> means alcohol in the context of organic chemistry. Not all molecules with OH<\/strong> are alcohols; nevertheless, OH<\/strong> is called “the alcohol group”.<\/p>\n Here are a couple more alcohols:<\/p>\n \n A final example reminds the student to count from the end of the chain that is nearest the alcohol group:<\/p>\n Many people might mistake the alcohol above for 5-hexanol. However, since the OH<\/strong> is nearer the bottom, you count up from there.<\/p>\n There are many more complicated alcohols – and of course other organic molecules – to name. Look for them in future posts:)<\/p>\n![](\"\/..\/nonanol.png\")
<\/p>\n![](\"\/..\/octanol.png\")
<\/p>\n![](\"\/..\/octanol3.png\")
<\/p>\n![](\"\/..\/hexanolapr23.png\")
<\/p>\n