Question

IUPAC name of $CH_{ 3 }COOH$ is:
A.Acetic acid
B.Formic acid
C.Methanoic acid
D.Ethanoic acid

Answer 1

Hint: First see the structure of the compound carefully. It has two carbons present in it. In IUPAC the prefix that is used for two carbons is “Ethane”. Since you already know it is a carboxylic acid you can assign the IUPAC name accordingly.


Complete step by step answer:

Let’s discuss all the options one by one -
Option A, Acetic acid ($CH_{ 3 }COOH$ ) is the common name of the compound containing a carboxylic acid group with one extra $CH_{ 3 }-$ group. In common name a prefix, “Acet” is used for two carbon atoms and “ic acid” is used to specify the acid group present in it.
Option B, Formic acid (HCOOH ) is the common name of the compound containing only one carboxylic acid group. In common name a prefix, “Form” is used for one carbon atom and “ic acid” is used to specify the acid group present in it.
Option C, Methanoic acid (HCOOH ) is the IUPAC name of the compound containing only one carboxylic acid group. In IUPAC name a prefix, “Methane” is used for one carbon atom, and “oic acid” is used to specify the acid group present in it.
Option D, Ethanoic acid ($CH_{ 3 }COOH$ ) is the IUPAC name of the compound containing a carboxylic acid group with one extra $CH_{ 3 }-$ group. In IUPAC name a prefix, “Ethane” is used for two carbon atoms and “oic acid” is used to specify the acid group present in it. This is the correct answer.

Therefore, we can conclude that the correct answer to this question is option D.


Note: We should know that a common name is just the name that we use in our regular life while IUPAC name is the name that follows the chemistry rules for naming a compound.