To Space or Not to Space-That is the Question When one encounters both "chloro acids" and "chloroacids," or "keto esters" and "ketoesters," in chemical writing it should he evident that both spaced and unspaced terms cannot be correct. Actually, the unspaced examples shown above are the ones to avoid, and it is not difficult to understand why. Chloroacetic acid, chlorobenzoic acid, and chlorosuccinic acid all involve the chloro prefix and a space before "acid." In English, "acid" is always a separate word, never a suffix. The above three acids may, therefore, be grouped as "chloro acids."Ester also isalways a separate word, and ketoesters or 8-ketoestersare terms to be avoided. Keto esters, preferably called 0x0 esters in recent years, might include 3-oxopentanoic ester (a B-0x0 ester), or 2- or 4-oxopentanoic esters. Deletion of pentanoic and the locants from these names would leave "0x0 esters." Presence of the space in the full name implies that it should remain in the abridged, collective name. A different kind of enor arises in group names of alkyl esters of an acid. Ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, and butyl acetate are all acetic derivatives and all are esters that are properly named as acetates, but they should not be collectively called "acetate esters." Instead, they are "acetic esters." Similarly, one should avoid "benzoate esters" and use "henzoic esters." Also, "sulfuric ester" is preferred to "sulfate ester," and phosphorous trimethyl ester to "phosphite triester." A half ester of maleic acid might properly he classed as maleic ester acid, and the half amide as maleic amide acid. Charles D. Hurd Northwestern University Evanston. IL 60201
Volume 61
Number 8
August 1984
667
