Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Naming Alcohols

Organic Chemistry

4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Naming Alcohols

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8:10 minutes

Problem 24

Textbook Question

Draw the structures of a homologous series of alcohols that have from one to six carbons and give each of them a common name and a systematic name.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the concept of a homologous series. A homologous series is a group of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties, differing by a CH₂ unit in their molecular formula. In this case, the functional group is the hydroxyl group (-OH) of alcohols.

Step 2: Start with the simplest alcohol, methanol (CH₃OH). Draw its structure and note that it has one carbon atom. Its common name is 'wood alcohol,' and its systematic name is methanol.

Step 3: Add one CH₂ unit to the structure of methanol to create ethanol (C₂H₅OH). Draw its structure, which has two carbon atoms. Its common name is 'grain alcohol,' and its systematic name is ethanol.

Step 4: Continue adding CH₂ units sequentially to create the next members of the series: propanol (C₃H₇OH), butanol (C₄H₉OH), pentanol (C₅H₁₁OH), and hexanol (C₆H₁₃OH). For each, draw the structure, assign the common name (e.g., 'propyl alcohol' for propanol), and provide the systematic name (e.g., 1-propanol for the straight-chain isomer).

Step 5: Ensure that for each alcohol, you clearly indicate the position of the hydroxyl group (-OH) if there are possible isomers (e.g., 1-propanol vs. 2-propanol). This step is important for systematic naming according to IUPAC rules.

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Key Concepts

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

Homologous Series

A homologous series is a group of organic compounds that share a common functional group and have a similar general formula, differing by a constant unit, typically a -CH2- group. In the case of alcohols, the general formula is CnH2n+1OH, where 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms. This series illustrates the gradual change in physical and chemical properties as the carbon chain length increases.

Alcohol Functional Group

Alcohols are characterized by the presence of one or more hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups attached to a carbon atom. The position of the hydroxyl group can affect the properties and naming of the alcohol. Alcohols can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary based on the carbon atom to which the -OH group is attached, influencing their reactivity and boiling points.

Nomenclature of Organic Compounds

The systematic naming of organic compounds follows the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) rules, which provide a standardized method for naming compounds based on their structure. For alcohols, the name includes the base name derived from the longest carbon chain, with the suffix '-ol' indicating the presence of the hydroxyl group. Common names may also be used, often based on historical or traditional naming conventions.

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