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Naming an Alcohol Simplified Revision Notes

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Name an alcohol from the structural formula

Introduction:

  • Naming alcohols from their structural formula involves identifying the longest continuous carbon chain where the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached and applying specific rules.

Step-by-Step Naming Process:

Find the Longest Carbon Chain:

  • Identify the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms where the hydroxyl (-OH) group is attached.
  • This chain becomes the parent compound.

Place Parent Name at the End:

  • The name of the parent compound is placed at the end of the compound's name.

Identify Branching Groups:

  • Look for any groups or branches attached to the carbon chain.

Alphabetical Order for Branches:

  • If there are multiple groups, list them in alphabetical order before the parent name.
  • For example, 'ethyl' comes before 'methyl' in alphabetical order.

Use 'Di' for Identical Groups:

  • If there are two identical groups, use the prefix 'di' before the name of the branch.
  • For example, 'dimethyl' or 'diethyl' indicates two identical groups.

'Tri' and 'Tetra' for Repetitions:

  • If there are three or four repetitions of the same group on the parent chain, use the prefixes 'tri' and 'tetra' respectively.

Numbering the Chain:

  • To specify the position of each group, number the parent chain from the end that results in the lowest possible numbers in the formula.

Chemistry

Name an alcohol from the structural formula

lightbulbExample

Example:

  • Let's consider the structural formula for an alcohol:
  • CH₃-CH₂-CH(OH)-CH₂-CH₃
  • Identify the longest carbon chain with the -OH group attached.
  • Parent name: Pentan-2-ol (the '2' indicates the position of the -OH group).
  • There are no branches or identical groups in this example.
bookmarkSummary

Conclusion:

  • Naming alcohols involves finding the longest carbon chain with the -OH group, placing the parent name at the end, and listing any branches or identical groups in alphabetical order.
  • Prefixes like 'di', 'tri', and 'tetra' are used for identical group repetitions, and numbering is used to specify group positions.
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