Question

State whether the following statement is true or false:
The IUPAC name of \[C{H_3}CN\] is methyl cyanide

Answer 1

Hint: To answer this question, you should recall the concept of IUPAC nomenclature of IUPAC compounds. The IUPAC system rose to the necessity for a systematic approach due to the sheer quantity of discoveries of organic compounds which made the vernacular nomenclature of organic compounds highly inconvenient.

Complete step by step answer:
-A set of rules has been formulated by IUPAC for a systematic approach for the nomenclature of organic compounds which has been revised from time to time. Any IUPAC name of the given organic compound consists of three parts of the name which are: parent name, prefix and suffix.
-In \[C{H_3}CN\] the longest carbon chain is composed of 2 atoms. Hence, the word root is ethane. The functional group is cyanide whose suffix is used as nitrile. For nomenclature purposes all compounds containing carbon as the main principle element qualify to be termed as an organic compound. Other elements like oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen are the three elements usually associated with carbon to form the system of functional or characteristics groups.
Hence, the correct IUPAC name of the given compound is ethanenitrile. The common name of this compound is acetonitrile.

Hence, the given statement is false.

Note:
According to the Guidelines set by IUPAC, the nomenclature of compounds must follow these steps:
1.The Longest Chain Rule
2.The Lowest Set of Locants: Numbering of parent chains in which the lowest number is assigned to the carbon atom which carries the substituents.
3.Multiple instances of the same substituent
4.The naming of different substituents
5.Correct naming of different substituents in case they are present at the same positions
6.Naming Complex Substituents