Question 11 markVery Short AnswerSection A

Write the name and structure of an alcohol with four carbon atoms in its molecule.

Carbon and its Compounds
Functional Groups

Official answer

The alcohol with four carbon atoms in its molecule is butanol (specifically, butan-1-ol).


Its molecular formula is C4H9OHC_4H_9OH (or CH3CH2CH2CH2OHCH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2OH).


Structure:

``

H H H H

H - C - C - C - C - O - H

H H H H

``

Answer keywords:ButanolC_4H_9OHstructurealcohol

Marking scheme

  1. 1.Correct name: Butanol (or Butan-1-ol) (0.5 marks)
  2. 2.Correct structural formula showing all bonds (0.5 marks)

Hint

Recall that a four-carbon alkane is called butane. Replacing one hydrogen atom with the alcohol functional group (−OH-OH) gives the corresponding alcohol.

Quick oral answer

The name of a four-carbon alcohol is butanol, and its formula is C4H9OHC_4H_9OH. It has a straight chain of four carbon atoms with an −OH-OH group attached to one of the terminal carbons.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Forgetting to show all single bonds in the structural formula.
  2. 2.Writing the formula of butane (C4H10C_4H_{10}) instead of butanol (C4H9OHC_4H_9OH).

Analysis and explanation

An alcohol contains the functional group −OH-OH attached to a carbon chain. For a four-carbon alcohol, we start with a butane skeleton (C4C_4) and replace one hydrogen atom with the −OH-OH group. This gives the formula C4H9OHC_4H_9OH. The IUPAC name is butanol.

Interesting facts

Butanol can be used as a biofuel (biobutanol) and has a higher energy density and lower volatility than ethanol.

Question details

Q1 of 36 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
Science
Year
2016
Section
Section A
Marks
1
Type
Very Short Answer
Chapter
Carbon and its Compounds
Topic
Functional Groups
Bloom's level
Applying
Syllabus topic
Functional groups in carbon compounds (Alcohols)

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Frequently asked questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2016?

This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Carbon and its Compounds" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "Functional Groups" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 paper?

This is a Very Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 paper.