Question:medium

The IUPAC name of ethylidene chloride is:

Updated On: Mar 21, 2026
  • 1-Chloroethene
  • 1-Chloroethyne
  • 1, 2-Dichloroethane
  • 1, 1-Dichloroethane
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The question requires us to determine the IUPAC name of ethylidene chloride. To address this, we need to understand the common name and its corresponding IUPAC nomenclature for compounds often encountered in organic chemistry.

Ethylidene chloride is a common name. To convert it into its IUPAC name, let's break down the term:

  1. The term "ethylidene" suggests a two-carbon chain (ethane) with a single substituent.
  2. The "idene" suffix indicates there's a double bond at the first carbon with two identical substituents (here, chlorine) attached to the first carbon in the chain, making it saturated.
  3. "Chloride" indicates the presence of two chlorine atoms.

Given these points, we're dealing with:

  • Two carbon atoms forming an alkane, so the base name is "ethane."
  • Both chlorine atoms are located on the first carbon, making it a 1,1-dichloro substituted ethane.

Therefore, the IUPAC name of ethylidene chloride is 1,1-Dichloroethane.

Let's examine the options provided:

  • 1-Chloroethene: This name indicates a different molecular structure, specifically a one-chloro-substituted ethene, which is not correct for ethylidene chloride.
  • 1-Chloroethyne: This name refers to a chloro-substituted alkyne, also incorrect for ethylidene chloride.
  • 1,2-Dichloroethane: This indicates chlorine atoms on adjacent carbons, which doesn’t match the given compound's structure.
  • 1,1-Dichloroethane: As justified above, it correctly represents the two chlorine atoms on the same carbon in ethane. This is the correct IUPAC name for ethylidene chloride.

The correct answer is 1,1-Dichloroethane.

Was this answer helpful?
1