IUPAC Name of CH₄O | methanol
What is the IUPAC name of CH₄O?
The IUPAC name of CH₄O is methanol. It is a alcohol with a 1-carbon parent chain (methanol).
| Formula | CH₄O |
| IUPAC Name | methanol |
| Compound Class | Alcohol |
| Parent Chain | methanol (1 carbons) |
| Substituents | None |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
Step 1: Identify the Parent Chain
The longest continuous carbon chain in CH₄O contains 1 carbon atoms, giving the parent name methanol. The parent chain must include the carbon bearing the hydroxyl (-OH) group.
Step 2: Number and Name Substituents
methanol has no substituents. The molecule consists solely of the 1-carbon parent chain with hydrogen atoms filling all remaining bonding positions.
Step 3: Assemble the IUPAC Name
With no substituents to add, the IUPAC name is simply the parent chain name: methanol.
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