Final answer:
The correct structure for 2-methylphenol includes a hydroxyl group (-OH) on carbon 1 of the benzene ring and a methyl group (-CH3) on carbon 2, adjacent to the hydroxyl group.
Step-by-step explanation:
Structure of 2-Methylphenol
2-Methylphenol is an organic compound where a methyl group (-CH3) is attached to the benzene ring of phenol at the second carbon atom. When naming aromatic compounds according to IUPAC nomenclature, we begin with the parent structure, which in this case is phenol. We then locate the substituents, using the carbon atom bearing the -OH group as the reference point (carbon 1).
To determine the correct structure for 2-methylphenol, we position the methyl group on the second carbon of the benzene ring, adjacent to the -OH group. This is consistent with rule 1 of the IUPAC Rules for Alcohols and analogous to the nomenclature for alkanes, where substituents are numbered to provide the lowest possible numbers. Therefore, the structure of 2-methylphenol has a hydroxyl group (-OH) on carbon 1 (phenol) and a methyl group on carbon 2.