Which of the following compounds is correctly classified as a primary alcohol? 1) 3-methyl-1-butanol 2) 3-methyl-2-butanol 3) 2-butanol 4) 2-methyl-2-butanol

• 1) 3-methyl-1-butanol

Explanation:

Primary alcohols are those which the OH functional group is attached to the primary carbon atom or first carbon atom in the chain. In other words, if the OH is attached to a carbon atom that is turn attached to only one carbon atom, it is considered primary alcohol. If the OH is attached to carbon atom which is attached to two carbon atoms, then this would be secondary atom. If the OH is attached to carbon atom that is in turn attached to two more carbon atoms, then this alcohol would be considered tertiary alcohol

In 3-methyl-1-butanol, the 1' shows the OH is attached to carbon atom 1 while the 3' shows the methyl group is attached to the third carbon atom. So this compound is primary alcohol.