The compound butanone does not need a number to specify the location of the carbonyl group on the carbon chain. Which statement best explains why?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Butanone is a four-carbon chain compound with a ketone functional group. The ketone group (C=O) can only be on the second carbon for it to be named butanone, as placing it on the first carbon would make it an aldehyde (butanal), not a ketone. Therefore, there is no need to specify the position of the carbonyl group because it can only be on the second carbon to be consistent with the naming of ketones.

The Compound Butanone Does Not Need a Number to Specify