Question

What does ortho, meta, and para mean in organic chemistry?

a) Isomers of hydrocarbons
b) Positions of substituents on a benzene ring
c) Types of organic functional groups
d) Reactivity of alkynes

Answer 1

In organic chemistry, the terms ortho, meta, and para describe the positions of substituents on a benzene ring.

Step-by-step explanation:

In organic chemistry, the terms ortho, meta, and para refer to the positions of substituents on a benzene ring. These terms are used in the common nomenclature system to describe the relative positions of groups attached to the aromatic ring. Ortho (o) refers to a 1,2 relationship, meta (m) refers to a 1,3 relationship, and para (p) refers to a 1,4 relationship. For example, in dimethylbenzene (xylene), if the two methyl groups are adjacent to each other, it is called ortho-xylene. If they are across from each other on the ring, it is para-xylene, and if the arrangement is in between, it is meta-xylene.