What is a major rule when naming compounds with multiple functional groups?

In organic nomenclature, when dealing with compounds that contain multiple functional groups, a key principle is to identify which functional group has the highest priority according to IUPAC rules. The highest priority functional group is assigned the suffix of the compound’s name, establishing it as the primary functional characteristic of the molecule.

Other functional groups that are present but do not have the highest priority are indicated with prefixes. This systematic approach helps to clearly convey the structure and reactivity of the compound, as the suffix reflects the most significant functional group while the prefixes denote additional features of the molecule.

This prioritization is derived from IUPAC rules that categorize functional groups based on reactivity and importance, allowing chemists to convey complex information succinctly in a compound's name. For example, if both an alcohol (an -ol suffix) and a carboxylic acid (a -oic acid suffix) are present, the carboxylic acid would take precedence, and the compound would be named accordingly with the alcohol described as a prefix. This method ensures consistent communication in the field of organic chemistry.