Question

for naming cycloalkanes, how do you know where to start the naming from?

Answer 1

When naming cycloalkanes:

if the cycloalkane is the parent, then number it so that the substitutents have the lowest number possible.

I.e. if you have one methyl hanging off and another methyl on the adjacent carbon, name the carbons 1,2 in the direction that gives you that (can be clockwise or counter clockwise.)

If the cycloalkane is a substituent (not the parent), then you must start with the carbon that is attached to the parent, and then number lowest possible from there.

Answer 2

this one