Numbering

[Jasmine Alcantara 3G]

For numbering multiple constituents, do we always make the first constituent the lowest possible number even when sacrificing a smaller overall number total? Or are we going for the lowest sum total?

[Mannat Sukhija 1E]

I believe you want to aim for the first number to be as small as possible opposed to a smaller sum of substituent numbers.

[Janice Kim 3I]

Hey! When numbering multiple constituents, always aim for the lowest sum total. If there is equal numbering between constituents (for example 2,3 or 3,2) then apply the lowest number to the first alphabetical constituent, not including the prefixes.

[DBaquero]

I believe Professor Lavelle told us to aim for the lowest first number. If the first number would be the same either way then aim for the lowest second number as well (and so on).

[andrea_Disc3D]

I heard someone say that you should also number a molecule so that you have the most substituents. I was wondering if anyone knew whether this was true or not?

[ribal_daniel_3H]

The way I see it is that we should strive to have the longest carbon chain. Also you want the first number to be the lowest I think. So if you have a 2 or 4-methyl and a 2 or 4-ethyl on a pentane, you would write 2-ethyl-4methylpentane.

[angelicapayne]

My TA mentioned the sum rule works only in some cases so it is not always a reliable way to determine numbering