Test Your Knowledge of Nomenclature

The following simple quiz is used to test your knowledge and understanding of systematic nomenclature rules and practical applications.

The challenge consists of 8 questions requiring basic to moderately-high levels of expertise in nomenclature. It could take 8 to 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the quiz, submit your answers and see how well you did.

Enter your e-mail address below so that we may send you the answers to the questions. By entering your e-mail address, you are consenting to allow ACD/Labs to contact you one time regarding this quiz. Your e-mail address will not be retained for any other purpose.

Try it yourself and then challenge your colleagues!

Please enter your e-mail address:  

Review ACD/Labs' Privacy Policy for further information.

Question 1 of 8

For each compound, strict application of the IUPAC systematic naming system will always yield only one possible name. Only this preferred IUPAC name (PIN) is valid.

 True
 False

Question 2 of 8

The IUPAC and CAS nomenclature systems share many conventions. What is the systematic name of the following molecule according to both systems?

 carbamide
 1,1-diaminomethanone
 carbonyldiamine
 urea

Question 3 of 8

A chemist entered the following structure and name (shown in blue) in a database.

1,3,5-trimethyl-1,6-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one

Later, a second chemist searched that database for a similar name (shown in red) differing only as shown in bold below. This 2^nd chemist complained that the search algorithm should also have returned the first substance as a hit because these two names refer to the same substance.

1,3,5-trimethyl-1,4-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one

Since both names clearly represent different structures, is the claim that this refers to the same substance reasonable?

 Yes
 No

Question 4 of 8

Which ring numbering scheme is correct according to systematic naming conventions (IUPAC or CAS follow the same numbering convention in this case)?

 1
 2
 3
 1 and 3 are both correct
 2 and 3 are both correct

Question 5 of 8

The general rules for numbering fused systems are extensive and strict, but there are also exceptions to these rules (retained numbering). The same overall numbering scheme is used for all structures drawn below. Which of the following structure(s) is(are) numbered correctly?

 1
 1, 2
 1, 2, 3
 2
 2, 3
 None of the above

Question 6 of 8

The anti-HIV agent zidovudine (a.k.a, Rotrovir, AZT) is drawn on the right. Amongst the names given, which one corresponds to the correct CAS Index name?
 

Thymidine	thymidine, 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-  thymidine, 3'-Azido-2',3'-dideoxy-  3'-Azidothymidine

Question 7 of 8

How many deviations from IUPAC rules were made in the name above?

 None
 1
 2
 3

Question 8 of 8

Knowing that 2D drawings can be misleading, select all possible absolute stereochemistry notations that could fit with this drawing and be chemically meaningful.

 (1R,2S,4R) or (1S,2S,4S) or (2S)
 (1S,2S,4S) or (1R,2S,4S) or (1S,2S,4R) or (1R,2S,4R) or (2S)
 (1S,2R,4S) or (2R)
 (1S,2R,4S) or (1R,2R,4S) or (1S,2R,4R) or (1R,2R,4R) or (2R)

The quiz took you: 0 minutes and 0 seconds to complete.