Final answer:
2-pentanone has a total of 5 alpha hydrogens, which are located on the carbon atoms directly adjacent to the carbonyl carbon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound in question is 2-pentanone, which is a ketone with the carbonyl group (C=O) on the second carbon of a five-carbon chain. To find the number of alpha hydrogens, we look at the carbon atoms directly adjacent to the carbonyl carbon. In 2-pentanone, the carbonyl carbon is flanked by two other carbon atoms: one has two hydrogens and the other has three hydrogens attached to it. Therefore, the compound has a total of 2 (from one adjacent carbon) + 3 (from the other adjacent carbon) = 5 alpha hydrogens.
The process of naming organic compounds like 2-pentanone involves identifying the position of the functional group and the longest carbon chain. For another example, the compound 2-pentene has a double bond between the second and third carbon atoms, and substitutes like chlorine would be indicated by their position such as in 2,3-dichloropentane.