Wikipedia:WikiProject Chemicals/Compound classes style guidelines

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;Scope The scope of this style guide should include:

functional groups (alcohols, aldehydes, acids, nitriles)

"backbone" moieties, both organic and inorganic

steroids, aldohexoses, terpenes

metal oxo compounds, metal carbonyl compounds, metal clusters

ions (nitrates, perchlorates, triflates, tetrafluroborates

WikiProject Chemicals/Compound classes style guidelines
An appropriate infobox at the right

The lede of the article should include an introduction of the class, notable characteristics, what it is used for (e.g. drugs, explosives, pesticides, fuels). Remember to note general, rather than specific points. Specific points can be given more discussion in the article body.

1 Nomenclature
2 Structure and bonding
3 Properties
4 Characterization
5 Applications
6 Occurrence
7 Preparation
8 Reactions
9 History
10 Safety
11 References

[edit] Nomenclature

Describe systematic (IUPAC) nomenclature for naming of compounds; mention historical or other alternate naming conventions if necessary. Compound classes with specific conventions include steroids,^[1] sugars. Conventions for 2-D structures should also be discussed, such as the Haworth and Fisher projections for sugars.

[edit] Structure and bonding

Detailed information about the bond lengths and angles typical of the functional group, theoretical aspects of bonding such as hybridization and molecular orbitals, bond dissociation energies, stereochemical and conformational properties.

[edit] Properties

Discuss notable molecular-level and macroscopic features such as acidity/basicity, boiling point, melting point, e.g. boiling point/melting point trends for alkanes.

[edit] Characterization

Features specific to this class which allow it to be identified. Appropriate contents include:

modern methods: expected ranges for NMR chemical shifts, IR bands.
flame tests, or other classic qualitative "wet" analyses

[edit] Applications

An optional section, but some functional groups/classes have general applications which might be briefly described (alkenes for making polymers, lower alcohols as solvents, hydroxides as bases, etc).

[edit] Occurrence

If significant, the natural occurrence of certain classes of compounds should be mentioned. Examples include alkanes (e.g. petroleum distillates), esters (fruit flavors), fatty acids, terpenes, steroids (biological products).

[edit] Preparation

Describe preparative routes for compounds of this class. Specific, "textbook" examples, with good references such as from Organic or Inorganic Syntheses can be useful.

[edit] Reactions

Describe possible reactions for compounds of this class. For example, discussion on Friedel-Crafts reactions on aromatic compounds, with mention of inductive and mesomeric effects is appropriate.

[edit] History

If notable, the first discovery or the first major use of this class of compounds can be discussed. Obviously, this section need not apply for many classes.

[edit] Safety

WP shouldn't be alarmist. A general mention of safety issues is in order, e.g. azides tend to be reactive/explosive. Reliable sources should be used as references! If there is nothing to be said, nothing should be said!