Question

The name of the compound having the structure $ClCH_2CH_2COOH$ is 
A. 3-chloropropanoic acid
B. 2-chloropropanoic acid
C. 2-chloroethanoic acid
D. Chlorosuccinic acid

Answer 1

Hint: The given compound contains halogen chlorine and a carboxylic acid, so the compound’s name will have the suffix oic acid because carboxylic acid has higher priority than halogen group and halo that is chloro for chlorine will be used as a prefix.



Complete Step-by-step answer:
The structure of the compound is $ClCH_2CH_2COOH$ the chlorine is attached to the third carbon because the numbering starts from the carboxylic acid carbon. The name of the compound is 3-chloropropanoic acid.


 Image: 3-chloropropanoic acid

3-chloropropionic acid is a crystalline solid, its color is white. The 3-chloropropionic acid has a strong pungent smell. It has a higher density than water. 3-chloropropionic acid is used as a drug and also used as an intermediate in chemical preparations. It is soluble in water, alcohol, and chloroform. It is corrosive in nature and can burn your skin or irritate it when it comes in contact with the skin, it can also injure the eyes, and it is harmful if taken orally and can cause unconsciousness. It is used as a herbicide and does not degrade microbially, hence hazardous in nature.
The name of the given compound having a structural formula is 3-chloropropanoic acid.


Thus, Option (A) is correct

Note: It can be prepared by the hydrolysis of beta-chloropropionaldehyde or by the hydrolysis of ethylene cyanohydrin with hydrochloric acid. It produces hazardous and toxic chlorine fumes while burning which can cause irritation and can affect the respiratory tract. The inhalation of these chlorine fumes or 3-chloropropanoic acid can cause pneumonitis. 2-chloropropionic acid is an isomer of 3-chloropropanoic acid and it is also toxic in nature.