Question

Which one of the following is a secondary alcohol?

• A. $2-\mathrm{methyl}-2-\mathrm{propanol}$
• B. $1-\mathrm{propanol}$
• C. $1-\mathrm{butanol}$
• D. $2-\mathrm{pentanol}$

Answer 1

The correct option is D

$2-\mathrm{pentanol}$

Explanation for correct option

(D) $\mathbf{2}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{pentanol}$

Alcohols

• A type of organic molecule with at least one hydroxyl -OH functional group attached to a saturated carbon atom is called an alcohol.
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols are the three types of alcohol.
• Examples: Etanol, Butanol, and Pentanol.

$\mathbf{2}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{pentanol}$

• $2-\mathrm{pentanol}$ is secondary alcohol composed of pentane with a hydroxy group replaced at position 2.
• It functions as both a polar solvent and a metabolite.
• Structure of $2-\mathrm{pentanol}$ is as follows:

Explanation for incorrect options

(A) $\mathbf{2}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{methyl}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{2}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{propanol}$

• $2-\mathrm{methyl}-2-\mathrm{propanol}$ is a tertiary alcohol.
• Structure of $2-\mathrm{methyl}-2-\mathrm{propanol}$:

(B) $\mathbf{1}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{propanol}$

• $1-\mathrm{propanol}$ is a primary alcohol.
• Structure of $1-\mathrm{propanol}$:

(C) $\mathbf{1}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{butanol}$

• $1-\mathrm{butanol}$ is a primary alcohol.
• Structure of $1-\mathrm{butanol}$:

Therefore, the correct option is (D) $\mathbf{2}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{pentanol}$.