Naming Amides
Definition of Amides:
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That is, amides are a class or category of organic chemical compounds that (usually*) include a part consisting of a carbon atom connected to both:
- a nitrogen atom connected to two hydrogen atoms by single covalent bonds between the nitogen and each of the hydrogen atoms (that is an -amine group).
AND
- an oxygen atom (connected to the carbon atom by a double covalent bond).
Amide molecules can vary in size up to very long molecules most of which consist of carbon atoms attached to each other and also to hydrogen atoms.
*In some more complex cases one of the hydrogen atoms attached to the nitrogen may be replaced .e.g. by a methyl group, as in methylbutanamide. However, many introductory texts incl. A-Level course materials describe the amide group as simply -CONH2. |
An alternative group-name for amides is carboxamides, i.e. the Carboxamide Group (of Chemicals).
Names of Amides in General
Amides are named according to the same system as other organic compounds, with the suffix -amide used to designate the presence in the molecule of an amide group.
The first step is to consider the number of carbon atoms forming a chain. If they are attached together in a linear (i.e. unbranched) configuration then the number of carbon atoms is indicated according to the same system as used for alkanes (see the examples listed in the table below).
However, if the carbon atoms do not form a linear chain but include branches, the linear chain of carbon atoms within the molecule determines the base of the name of the compound - onto which is added information about the branches incl. their lengths in terms of the number of carbon atoms in each branch (i.e. methyl- indicates a branch consisting of just one carbon atom attached to the main chain, ethyl- indicates a branch of two carbon atoms in length, etc.). and their positions along the longest linear carbon chain.
The simplest linear amides are named and their structures drawn first. Larger and more complex molecules follow afterwards.
Names and Structures of simple Linear Amides
The homologous series of linear amides with the -amide group attached to the first (=last!) carbon atom is shown below.
Number carbons in chain |
Name |
Simple Structure |
Other Names = Synonyns
(*Examples not complete lists) |
and simple formula |
showing bond types but not accurate bond angles |
 |
1 |
|
 |
- Methanamide
- 1-Methanamide
- Methanamid
- Carbamaldehyde
- Formimidic acid
- Formic acid, amide
- Formamid
- Formic amide
|
2 |
ethanamide (C2H5NO) |
CH3CONH2 |
|
 |
- Acetamide
- Acetic acid amide
- Acetimidic acid
- Methanecarboxamide
- Ethanimidic acid
- Acetamid
- Ethionamide
- Ethanamid
- Acetimidic acid
|
3 |
propanamide (C3H7NO) |
CH3CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
- n-Propanamide
- Propylamide
- n-Propylamide
- Propionamide
- Propionic amide
- Propanimidic acid
- Propionimidic acid
- Propionic acid
- Propionic acid amide
- Propyzamide
- Protionamide
|
4 |
butanamide (C4H9NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
- n-Butanamide
- Butyramide
- n-Butyramide
- n-Butylamide
- Butanimidic acid
|
5 |
pentanamide (C5H11NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
- n-Pentanamide
- Valeramide
- n-Valeramide
- Pentanimidic acid
|
6 |
hexanamide (C6H13NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
- n-Hexanamide
- Caproamide
- n-Caproamide
- Capronamide
- Hexylamide
- Hexamide
- Hexanoamide
- Policapram
- n-Capronamide
- n-Caproic amide
|
7 |
heptanamide (C7H15NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
- n-Heptanamide
- Enanthamide
- Octanoylamide
- Heptamide
- Enanthic acid amide
|
8 |
octanamide (C8H17NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
|
9 |
nonanamide (C9H19NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CONH2 |
|
 |
- n-Nonanamide
- Nonamide
- Pelargonamide
- Nonan-1-amide
- Nonanoic acid amide
- Nonan-1-amide
|
10 |
decanamide (C10H21NO) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CONH2 |
 |
|
 |
- n-Decanamide
- Decylamide
- Capramide
- Decanamide-
- Decanoic acid amide
- Decan-1-amide
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Why stop at ten carbon atoms (in the chain) ? It doesn't. There are more similar linear amines, or 1-aminoalkanes. We stopped here due to page width.
Important Note: *The synonyms indicated for compounds listed above are just some examples of alternative names found online and believed to have been used to refer to the substance indicated. They have not all been verified and may include common (non-scientific) names, trade names specific to particular suppliers, and perhaps errors. The purpose of these lists is to give a general indication of the range of names by which amines are known - both generally, and specifically.
Note:
This is one of many pages about types of organic compounds in our Organic Chemistry Section. Similar and related pages describe hydrocarbons, alkanes, haloalkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes), alcohols, esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, azo dyes, amines, amides, nitriles, amino acids (chemistry), peptides, proteins (chemistry), polypeptides and others. If you need further information ask your chemistry tutor.
According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recommendations for nomenclature of organic chemistry, compounds that include the -amide functional group may be called amides, see more about naming amides.
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