Step 1: Understand what a primary alcohol is. A primary alcohol is an alcohol where the hydroxyl group (-OH) is attached to a carbon atom that is connected to only one other carbon atom.
Step 2: Look at the structure of 1-butanol. It has the formula C4H10O.
Step 3: Identify the carbon atom that has the hydroxyl group in 1-butanol. This is the first carbon in the chain.
Step 4: Check how many carbon atoms are connected to the carbon with the hydroxyl group. In 1-butanol, this carbon is connected to only one other carbon.
Step 5: Since the carbon with the hydroxyl group is connected to only one other carbon, 1-butanol is classified as a primary alcohol.
