Draw the structures of a homologous series of alcohols that have from one to six carbons and give each of them a common name and a systematic name.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of a homologous series. A homologous series is a group of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar chemical properties, differing by a CH₂ unit in their molecular formula. In this case, the functional group is the hydroxyl group (-OH) of alcohols.
2. Step 2: Start with the simplest alcohol, methanol (CH₃OH). Draw its structure and note that it has one carbon atom. Its common name is 'wood alcohol,' and its systematic name is methanol.
3. Step 3: Add one CH₂ unit to the structure of methanol to create ethanol (C₂H₅OH). Draw its structure, which has two carbon atoms. Its common name is 'grain alcohol,' and its systematic name is ethanol.
4. Step 4: Continue adding CH₂ units sequentially to create the next members of the series: propanol (C₃H₇OH), butanol (C₄H₉OH), pentanol (C₅H₁₁OH), and hexanol (C₆H₁₃OH). For each, draw the structure, assign the common name (e.g., 'propyl alcohol' for propanol), and provide the systematic name (e.g., 1-propanol for the straight-chain isomer).
5. Step 5: Ensure that for each alcohol, you clearly indicate the position of the hydroxyl group (-OH) if there are possible isomers (e.g., 1-propanol vs. 2-propanol). This step is important for systematic naming according to IUPAC rules.

Key Concepts

Homologous Series

A homologous series is a group of organic compounds that share a common functional group and have a similar general formula, differing by a constant unit, typically a -CH2- group. In the case of alcohols, the general formula is CnH2n+1OH, where 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms. This series illustrates the gradual change in physical and chemical properties as the carbon chain length increases.

Alcohol Functional Group

Alcohols are characterized by the presence of one or more hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups attached to a carbon atom. The position of the hydroxyl group can affect the properties and naming of the alcohol. Alcohols can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary based on the carbon atom to which the -OH group is attached, influencing their reactivity and boiling points.

Nomenclature of Organic Compounds

The systematic naming of organic compounds follows the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) rules, which provide a standardized method for naming compounds based on their structure. For alcohols, the name includes the base name derived from the longest carbon chain, with the suffix '-ol' indicating the presence of the hydroxyl group. Common names may also be used, often based on historical or traditional naming conventions.