The Chemistry of Ethers: Unlocking the IUPAC Name for a Compound

What is the IUPAC name for CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH3?

a. 1-butoxyethane

b. ethyl-4-oxobutane

c. 1-ethoxybutane

d. ethyl butyl ether

e. 1-ethoxyhexane

Final answer:

The correct IUPAC name for CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH3 is 1-ethoxybutane.

Explanation:

The IUPAC name for the compound CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH3 is based on the concept of ethers, where the molecule is named by identifying the longest carbon chain and then naming the alkoxy group (the alkyl group bonded to oxygen) as a substituent. In this molecule, the longest carbon chain has four carbon atoms, which is butane, and the alkoxy group comes from ethane, which gives us the ethoxy substituent. The correct IUPAC name is thus 1-ethoxybutane, which makes the answer to the student's question (c) 1-ethoxybutane.