Question

What do the numbers in the names of the alcohols tell us about the molecule?

Answer 1

Answer on Question #43821 - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry

Question:

What do the numbers in the names of the alcohols tell us about the molecule?

Answer:

The numbers in the names of alcohols tell us, which carbon the hydroxyl group is bound to. For example in two isomeric alcohols:

In propan-1-ol number 1 indicates that OH-group is bound to $1^{\text{st}}$ carbon atom of the hydrocarbon chain, while in propan-2-ol the hydroxyl group is bound to $2^{\text{nd}}$ carbon atom.

In case of polyatomic alcohols or polyalcohols, the numbers in the names of the alcohols indicate positions of all OH-groups. For example:

Of course, not all numbers in the name of the alcohols indicate the OH-groups position. Some of the numbers indicate location of the hydrocarbon substituents in the main chain, that is common for all organic compounds nomenclature, not only for the alcohols. For example:

2-methylpropan-1-ol

In 2-methylpropan-1-ol, number 2 indicates the methyl group position and number 1 – hydroxyl group position.

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