What prefixes are used in naming the following?
a. A 1,3-disubstituted benzene
b. A 1,4-disubstituted benzene

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the positions of the substituents on the benzene ring. In this case, we have 1,3 and 1,4 positions.
2. For a 1,3-disubstituted benzene, the substituents are on the first and third carbon atoms of the benzene ring. The prefix used for this arrangement is 'meta-', abbreviated as 'm-'.
3. For a 1,4-disubstituted benzene, the substituents are on the first and fourth carbon atoms of the benzene ring. The prefix used for this arrangement is 'para-', abbreviated as 'p-'.
4. Remember that these prefixes are used to indicate the relative positions of the substituents on the benzene ring, which is important for understanding the structure and reactivity of the compound.
5. Use these prefixes when naming the compounds to clearly communicate the positions of the substituents on the benzene ring.

Key Concepts

Disubstituted Benzene

Disubstituted benzene refers to a benzene ring that has two substituents attached to it. The position of these substituents is crucial for naming, as it determines the prefix used. The substituents can be located at various positions, leading to different naming conventions based on their relative positions, such as ortho (1,2-), meta (1,3-), and para (1,4-).

IUPAC Nomenclature

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature provides a systematic method for naming chemical compounds. For disubstituted benzenes, the naming involves identifying the substituents and their positions on the benzene ring. The prefixes 'ortho-', 'meta-', and 'para-' are used to indicate the relative positions of the substituents, which is essential for clear communication in chemistry.

Substituent Priority

In naming disubstituted benzenes, the priority of substituents can affect the naming process. When two different substituents are present, the one with higher priority is often named first, and its position is indicated by the lowest possible number. This priority is determined by the substituent's functional group and its position in the IUPAC hierarchy, which helps in creating unambiguous names for the compounds.