In organic nomenclature, which functional group has the highest priority?

In organic nomenclature, the functional group with the highest priority is the carboxylic acid. This is due to the hierarchy established by IUPAC rules, which prioritize certain functional groups over others based on their chemical properties and reactivity.

Carboxylic acids contain the -COOH functional group, and they can engage in multiple types of reactions, such as forming esters and amides, due to their acidic nature. Their structure allows for hydrogen bonding, which contributes to their distinct physical properties, such as higher boiling points compared to other functional groups. In systems where various functional groups are present, the presence of a carboxylic acid often dictates the naming of the compound. According to IUPAC rules, when naming a compound with multiple functional groups, the one with the highest priority is chosen as the suffix, and others are treated as substituents, reinforcing the dominance of carboxylic acids in nomenclature.

This contrasts with the other functional groups listed: alcohols (-OH), aldehydes (-CHO), and ketones (C=O), which have lower priority in the hierarchy. Therefore, while they have significant importance in organic chemistry, they do not surpass the carboxylic acid in terms of