Who this is for: Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science (0654) students who want organic compound naming — prefixes, suffixes and functional groups — to become reliable marks instead of guesswork from molecular formulas.
What query it owns: how to understand and revise names of compounds in Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science.
Why this is safe: this page owns the names-of-compounds revision-guide angle, while Tutopiya’s Names of Compounds subtopic page owns the learning resource and the free Names of Compounds quiz owns the practice.

Organic chemistry in Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science (0654) requires you to name and draw simple compounds from their formulas — and vice versa. Examiners test carbon-chain prefixes (meth-, eth-, prop-, but-), suffixes (-ane, -ene, -ol) and functional groups that define each homologous series. This guide covers the naming rules, comparison tables examiners expect, and the question types that appear every year.

Key takeaways

• The prefix tells you the number of carbon atoms: meth- (1), eth- (2), prop- (3), but- (4).
• The suffix -ane means a saturated hydrocarbon (alkane); -ene means an alkene (C=C double bond).
• The suffix -ol indicates an alcohol (–OH functional group).
• A functional group is the atom or group that gives a homologous series its characteristic reactions.
• Name the longest carbon chain, identify the functional group, then add the correct prefix and suffix.

What are names of compounds in Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science?

Organic naming follows systematic rules so that every compound has a unique name describing its structure. At IGCSE Coordinated Science level, you name and draw alkanes, alkenes and alcohols with up to four carbon atoms. The name encodes the carbon-chain length (prefix) and the type of compound (suffix / functional group). Examiners often give a displayed formula and ask for the name, or give a name and ask for the structure.

Read the full notes on Tutopiya’s Names of Compounds subtopic page before attempting questions.

The core ideas you must master

Idea	What it means	How the exam uses it
Carbon prefix	meth-, eth-, prop-, but-	”Name this compound with two carbons.”
Suffix -ane	Saturated C–C single bonds	”State the suffix for an alkane.”
Suffix -ene	One C=C double bond	”Name CH₂=CH₂.”
Suffix -ol	–OH on carbon chain	”Name CH₃CH₂OH.”
Functional group	Defines chemical behaviour	”Identify the functional group in ethanol.”

Prefixes and suffixes — quick reference

Carbons	Prefix	Alkane (-ane)	Alkene (-ene)	Alcohol (-ol)
1	meth-	methane (CH₄)	—	methanol (CH₃OH)
2	eth-	ethane (C₂H₆)	ethene (C₂H₄)	ethanol (C₂H₅OH)
3	prop-	propane (C₃H₈)	propene (C₃H₆)	propanol (C₃H₇OH)
4	but-	butane (C₄H₁₀)	butene (C₄H₈)	butanol (C₄H₉OH)

Functional groups tested at IGCSE Coordinated Science

Homologous series	Functional group	Suffix	Example
Alkanes	C–C and C–H only (saturated)	-ane	Ethane
Alkenes	C=C double bond	-ene	Ethene
Alcohols	–OH (hydroxyl)	-ol	Ethanol

How to name an organic compound — step by step

1. Count carbons in the longest chain → choose prefix (meth-, eth-, prop-, but-).
2. Identify the functional group → choose suffix (-ane, -ene, -ol).
3. Combine prefix + suffix → e.g. three carbons + –OH = propanol.
4. For alkenes, note the position of the double bond if more than one isomer exists (extension level).
5. Check the formula matches: alkanes CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, alkenes CₙH₂ₙ, alcohols CₙH₂ₙ₊₁OH.

Names of compounds in past-paper wording

Command word	What the question wants	Typical stem
Name	Systematic IUPAC-style name	”Name the compound CH₃CH₂CH₂OH.”
Draw	Displayed or structural formula	”Draw the structure of ethene.”
State	Prefix, suffix or functional group	”State the functional group in ethanol.”
Identify	Series from name or formula	”Identify the homologous series of butane.”
Give formula	Molecular formula from name	”Give the formula of propane.”

Worked exam-style stems

1. “Name the compound with formula C₂H₅OH.” Ethanol (two carbons → eth-; alcohol → -ol). Reward: ethanol.
2. “Draw the displayed formula of ethene.” Two carbon atoms joined by a double bond, each bonded to two hydrogen atoms: H₂C=CH₂. Reward: C=C double bond + correct H count.
3. “State the functional group present in propanol.” Hydroxyl group (–OH). Reward: –OH or hydroxyl.

Practise on the Names of Compounds quiz.

How naming connects to the syllabus

Naming is the foundation for Alkanes, Alkenes, Homologous Series and Alcohols. The Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science resource hub links every Organic Chemistry subtopic.

Common mistakes students make

• Using -ane for an alkene (compounds with C=C need -ene).
• Confusing ethane (C₂H₆) with ethene (C₂H₄).
• Forgetting the –OH group when naming alcohols (calling ethanol “ethane”).
• Drawing single bonds between carbons in ethene (must show C=C).
• Miscounting carbons when the chain is drawn in a non-linear displayed formula.

When you need more support

If organic naming questions keep costing marks, work through the Names of Compounds quiz, then get help from a Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science tutor.

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix “prop-” mean? The molecule has a three-carbon chain.

What is the difference between -ane and -ene? -ane indicates saturated single bonds (alkane); -ene indicates a C=C double bond (alkene).

What functional group do alcohols contain? The hydroxyl group (–OH).

How do I revise organic naming effectively? Learn the four prefixes, three suffixes, and practise naming and drawing up to four-carbon compounds, then take the quiz.

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