Answer to Question #252805 in Organic Chemistry for Gugu

Question

Synthesis of octanal from bromo-2-propylpentane

Answer 1

(A double bond between the third and fourth C atoms is the same as having it between the first and second C atoms, only flipped over.) The rules of naming in organic chemistry require that these two substances have different names. The first molecule is named bromo-2-propylpentane, while the second molecule is named bromo-2-propylpentane. The number at the beginning of the name indicates where the double bond originates. The lowest possible number is used to number a feature in a molecule; hence, calling the second molecule 3-butene would be incorrect. Numbers are common parts of organic chemical names because they indicate which C atom in a chain contains a distinguishing feature.

The compounds 1-butene and 2-butene have different physical and chemical properties, even though they have the same molecular formula—C4H8. Different molecules with the same molecular formula are called isomers Isomers are common in organic chemistry and contribute to its complexity