Give both the IUPAC name and the common name for each alcohol. (a) CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3 (b) (c) (d) (CH3)2CHCH2CH2OH

Ch.10 - Structure and Synthesis of Alcohols

Wade9th EditionOrganic ChemistryISBN: 9780135213728Not the one you use?Change textbook

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Wade 9th Edition

Ch.10 - Structure and Synthesis of Alcohols

Problem 2

Chapter 10, Problem 2

Give both the IUPAC name and the common name for each alcohol.
(a) CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃
(b)
(c)
(d) (CH₃)₂CHCH₂CH₂OH

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the longest carbon chain that contains the hydroxyl (-OH) group for each compound. This chain will serve as the parent chain, and the compound will be named as an alcohol.

Step 2: Number the carbon atoms in the parent chain such that the carbon attached to the hydroxyl group gets the lowest possible number. This ensures proper IUPAC naming.

Step 3: For IUPAC naming, replace the '-e' at the end of the alkane name of the parent chain with '-ol' to indicate the presence of the hydroxyl group. Include the position of the hydroxyl group as a number before the '-ol' suffix.

Step 4: For common naming, name the alkyl group attached to the hydroxyl group, followed by the word 'alcohol'.

Step 5: Apply these rules to each compound: (a) CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3 and (d) (CH3)2CHCH2CH2OH. For example, in (a), the parent chain is butane, and the hydroxyl group is on the second carbon. For (d), the parent chain is pentane, and the hydroxyl group is on the first carbon.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

IUPAC Nomenclature

IUPAC nomenclature is a systematic method for naming organic chemical compounds. It provides a set of rules to derive names based on the structure of the molecule, including the longest carbon chain, functional groups, and their positions. For alcohols, the suffix '-ol' is used, and the position of the hydroxyl group (-OH) is indicated by a number.

Common Names of Alcohols

Common names for alcohols often derive from the names of the corresponding alkyl groups followed by 'alcohol.' These names are less systematic than IUPAC names and can vary by region. For example, isopropyl alcohol is a common name for 2-propanol, which is derived from the isopropyl group.

Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. In the case of alcohols, the hydroxyl group (-OH) is the functional group that defines their properties and reactivity. Understanding functional groups is essential for predicting the behavior of organic compounds.