Question

Name the functional group present in the following compound.

${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}$

Answer 1

Step 1:

A functional group is defined as a group of atoms that exist in a molecule and describes the characteristics reactions of organic compounds.

Step 2:

The functional group present in the given compound is the alcohol as carbon atom is directly bonded to a hydroxyl group by a single bond.

The number of atoms in the longest chain of the given compound ${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}$, is 2, so the root word is “Ethyl”. Therefore, the name of the compound is Ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

Hence, the functional group present in the following compound is alcohol.