Final answer:
Disubstituted aromatic compounds show different splitting patterns based on the positions of the substituents: ortho, meta, and para. These terms describe the relative location of substituents on the benzene ring, and the naming follows IUPAC standards ensuring clarity in the description of each compound's structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with disubstituted aromatic compounds, it's important to understand their splitting patterns and nomenclature based on the position of the substituents on the benzene ring. In the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) naming system, the location of the substituents is indicated using numbers and prefixes: ortho (1,2-disubstitution), meta (1,3-disubstitution), and para (1,4-disubstitution). These prefixes indicate the relative positions of two substituents on a benzene ring.
For example, if two methyl groups are attached to a benzene ring and are next to each other, it is referred to as o-xylene (ortho-xylene). When they are separated by one carbon, it is m-xylene (meta-xylene), and when they are opposite each other, it is p-xylene (para-xylene). In cases where there are more than two substituents, such as in poly-substituted benzene, the substituents are listed alphabetically with the lowest possible set of numbers to indicate their positions on the ring. The concept of equivalent positions in a symmetrical hexagon does not apply here due to the disubstitution, which makes some carbon atoms in the ring non-equivalent.