Question

How many carbon environments are there in 5-methylhexan-3-ol.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Carbons that are bonded to different atoms and/or groups are in different environments.

Carbon 1 - three H atoms and $CH_2CH(OH)CH_2CH(CH_3)CH_3$ group

Carbon 2 - $CH_3$ group, two H atons and $CH(OH)CH_2CH(CH_3)CH_3$

Carbon 3 - $CH_3CH_2$ group, one H, one OH group and $CH_2CH(CH_3)CH_3$

Carbon 4 - $CH_3CH_2CH(OH)$ group, two carbon atoms and $CH(CH_3)CH_3$

Carbon 5 - $CH_3CH_2CH(OH)CH_2$ , one H aton and two $CH_3$ groups

Carbon 6 and crabon 7 are identical as they have the same group around them - $CH_3CH_2CH(OH)CH_2CH(CH_3)$ and three H atoms

So there are 6 carbon environments