Organic chemistry
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What this topic is really about
The formula CH₃—CH₂—OH contains a two‑carbon chain ending in a hydroxyl group, which the IUPAC system names ethanol, reflecting its ethyl backbone attached to an alcohol functional group. Choice A, methanol, is incorrect because it corresponds to a single‑carbon alcohol (CH₃OH), and the given structure has an extra carbon, so it cannot be methanol.
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) contains the -COOH functional group, which classifies it as a carboxylic acid. It is not an alcohol because the hydroxyl group is bonded to a carbonyl carbon, altering its chemical properties significantly from simple alcohols which lack this carbonyl group.
See the mechanism
The formula CH₃—CH₂—OH contains a two‑carbon chain ending in a hydroxyl group, which the IUPAC system names ethanol, reflecting its ethyl backbone attached to an alcohol functional group. A diagram for this topic isn't available yet — the worked example below walks the same reasoning step by step.
An exam-style question, fully explained
IUPAC name of CH₃—CH₂—OH:
- Identify what the question tests: IUPAC name of CH₃—CH₂—OH:.
- The formula CH₃—CH₂—OH contains a two‑carbon chain ending in a hydroxyl group, which the IUPAC system names ethanol, reflecting its ethyl backbone attached to an alcohol functional group.
- Choice A, methanol, is incorrect because it corresponds to a single‑carbon alcohol (CH₃OH), and the given structure has an extra carbon, so it cannot be methanol.
Traps the examiner sets
- Choice A, methanol, is incorrect because it corresponds to a single‑carbon alcohol (CH₃OH), and the given structure has an extra carbon, so it cannot be methanol.
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