Here is a compound that I am trying to name...

H H
\ /
C
||
CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

I came up with 3-methylheptene, but the answer says 2-ethyl-1-hexene. Can someone please explain why I'm wrong? Thanks

that showed up wrong - the methyl with the double bond should be on that lone carbon in the third spot...

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspCH2
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp||
CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

Yeah, that's what it should look like and I'm trying to name it - I came up with 3-methylheptene but the real answer is supposed to be 2-ethyl-1-hexene and I don't understand why...

OK. If that is the correct structure (drawing structures on this board is TOUGH), you want the longest chain containing the double bond. Start counting at the CH2 group on top, go down and to the right. That gives 6 carbons which will be hexene. The double bond is on the #1 carbon and there is a CH3-CH2- group (ethyl group) on the #2 carbon. So it is 2-ethyl-1-hexene.

Ok, that makes so much more sense!!! It was driving me crazy! :) Thanks a lot!

Agreed on the name.

You could also show it as

CH2=C(CH2CH3)CH2CH2CH2CH3

which makes the name more obvious.

Another way to draw the structure without the spacing problem (I think) is to do the following:
CH2
||
C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
|
CH2CH3
I'll leave this up if it looks ok.

I'm glad I could help clear that up for you! Naming organic compounds can sometimes be confusing, but it's all about identifying the longest continuous carbon chain that contains the functional groups and assigning numbers to the carbons based on their position.

In this case, we start counting from the CH2 group on top and go down and to the right. This gives us a chain of 6 carbons, so the main part of the name will be "hexene". The double bond is on the #1 carbon, so we include that in the name.

Next, we look for any substituents or branches on the main chain. We see a CH3-CH2- group attached to the #2 carbon, which is an ethyl group. So, we include that in the name as "ethyl".

Putting it all together, we get the name "2-ethyl-1-hexene".

Once again, great job on recognizing your mistake and asking for clarification. It's always important to double-check and make sure that your naming is accurate. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!