Final answer:
To correctly name a cycloalkane, identify the number of carbons in the ring, use the prefix 'cyclo-' followed by the corresponding alkane name, and arrange any substituents alphabetically, ensuring the numbering gives the lowest possible numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
To select the correct IUPAC name for a cycloalkane, we must first identify the number of carbon atoms in the ring structure. Cycloalkanes are named by adding the prefix cyclo- to the name of an alkane chain with the same number of carbon atoms as the ring.
For example, cyclohexane indicates a cyclic alkane with six carbon atoms, which can be represented as a hexagon. Likewise, cyclopentane would refer to a five-carbon ring, cyclobutane to a four-carbon ring, and cyclopropane to a three-carbon ring. When naming substituents on the cycloalkane, we start with the substituent that comes alphabetically first for numbering the carbons in the ring. The goal is to give the substituents the lowest possible numbers.
If the substituent is more complex than the ring, the ring can be considered a substituent and labeled accordingly with a changing suffix from -ane to -yl, such as cyclopropyl when cyclopropane is a substituent. Multiple substituents are listed in alphabetical order, just as with alkanes.