In lecture,the professor named a molecule 4-ethylpentane.An alert student pointed out that although the correct structure could be drawn,the name did not follow systematic rules.What is the correct systematic name for the molecule?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct systematic name for a molecule initially named as 4-ethylpentane would be 3-methylhexane. This is because the longest carbon chain actually has six carbons (hexane), and the methyl group is attached to the third carbon, not the fourth. The initial naming was incorrect because it did not identify the longest carbon chain correctly and mislocated the substituent.

In Lecture,the Professor Named a Molecule 4-Ethylpentane