Which of the following compounds is a secondary alcohol?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following compounds is a secondary alcohol?
1-Butanol
2-Butanol
3-Pentanol
Cyclohexanol
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following compounds is a secondary alcohol?
Step 1: Understand what an alcohol is. An alcohol is a compound that has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom.
Step 2: Know the types of alcohols. There are three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary. This classification depends on how many other carbon atoms are connected to the carbon with the hydroxyl group.
Step 3: Identify a secondary alcohol. A secondary alcohol has the hydroxyl group attached to a carbon that is connected to two other carbon atoms.
Step 4: Look at the compound 2-Butanol. It has the structure CH3-CH(OH)-CH2-CH3.
Step 5: Analyze the carbon with the hydroxyl group in 2-Butanol. This carbon (the one with -OH) is connected to two other carbons (one on each side).
Step 6: Conclude that since the hydroxyl group in 2-Butanol is attached to a carbon connected to two other carbons, it is a secondary alcohol.