Ketone - Nomenclature and Etymology

Nomenclature and Etymology

The word ketone derives its name from Aketon, an old German word for acetone.

According to the rules of IUPAC nomenclature, ketones are named by changing the suffix -ane of the parent alkane to -one. For the most important ketones, however, traditional nonsystematic names are still generally used, for example acetone and benzophenone. These nonsystematic names are considered retained IUPAC names, although some introductory chemistry textbooks use names such as 2-propanone or propan-2-one instead of acetone, the simplest ketone (CH₃-CO-CH₃). The position of the carbonyl group is usually denoted by a number.

Although used infrequently, oxo is the IUPAC nomenclature for a ketone functional group. Other prefixes, however, are also used. For some common chemicals (mainly in biochemistry), keto or oxo refer to the ketone functional group. The term oxo is used widely through chemistry. For example, it also refers to an oxygen atom bonded to a transition metal (a metal oxo).