Question:medium

What is the IUPAC name for the compound \( \text{CH}_3 - \text{CH(OH)} - \text{CH}_2 - \text{CHO} \)?

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When aldehyde and alcohol groups are present together, aldehyde has higher priority and the \(-OH\) group is treated as a hydroxy substituent.
Updated On: Apr 17, 2026
  • 3-Hydroxybutanal
  • 2-Hydroxybutanal
  • 4-Hydroxybutanal
  • Butanol
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The task is to provide the systematic IUPAC name for the given organic molecule which contains both an alcohol and an aldehyde functional group.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
We must follow the IUPAC rules of nomenclature for polyfunctional compounds:
1. Identify the principal functional group to determine the parent name's suffix.
2. Find the longest carbon chain that includes the principal functional group.
3. Number the carbon chain, giving the principal functional group the lowest possible number.
4. Name and number all other functional groups as prefixes (substituents).
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
1. Principal Functional Group: The compound contains an aldehyde (\(-CHO\)) group and an alcohol (\(-OH\)) group. According to the IUPAC priority order, the aldehyde group has higher priority than the alcohol group. Thus, the compound is named as an aldehyde, and its name will end with the suffix "-al".
2. Longest Carbon Chain: The longest continuous chain of carbon atoms containing the aldehyde group has 4 carbons. Therefore, the parent alkane is butane, and the parent name of the aldehyde is "butanal".
3. Numbering the Chain: The numbering of the carbon chain must start from the aldehyde carbon, giving it position 1.
\[ \underset{4}{CH_3} - \underset{3}{CH}(OH) - \underset{2}{CH_2} - \underset{1}{CHO} \] 4. Naming Substituents: The hydroxyl (\(-OH\)) group is now treated as a substituent. As a prefix, it is named "hydroxy". It is located on carbon number 3.
Combining these parts, the full IUPAC name is 3-hydroxybutanal.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct IUPAC name for the compound is 3-Hydroxybutanal.
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