Question

9. The structural formula for pentane is shown here: Pentane can form 3 different alcohols when it gains a hydroxyl group. Write the structural formulas for these three alcohols.

Answer 1

Pentane can form three different alcohols, known as isomers, by adding a hydroxyl group to different carbons: 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, and 3-pentanol. These differ in whether the OH group is on the first, second, or third carbon, resulting in primary or secondary alcohols.

Step-by-step explanation:

The structural formula for pentane (C5H12) when it gains a hydroxyl group (OH) can yield three different alcohols, depending on which carbon the OH group is added to. These alcohols are known as isomers because they have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas.

• 1-pentanol: The OH group is added to the first carbon. The condensed formula is CH3(CH2)3CH2OH.
• 2-pentanol: The OH group is added to the second carbon. The condensed formula is CH3CH(OH)CH2CH2CH3.
• 3-pentanol: The OH group is added to the third carbon. The condensed formula is CH3CH2CH(OH)CH2CH3.

These alcohols are primary, secondary, and secondary alcohols, respectively, based on which carbon the hydroxyl group attaches to.

Answer 2

Pentane has a C5H12 formula, if we take one H and substitute it with an OH (hydroxyl group), we will end up with C5H11OH, and that has a few isomers, which are different structures for the same chemical formula.

C5H11OH can be: Pentan-1-ol; Pentan-2-ol; Pentan-3-ol; Neo-pentanol; 2-methylbutan-1-ol; Iso-pentanol, and more.