Question

The molecular formula ${C_4}{H_{10}}O$ represents:
A) Aldehyde
B) Alcohols
C) Ethers
D) Both(B) and (C)

Answer 1

Hint: For solving these types of questions, try to make the skeleton using carbon connected with single bonds and then try to satisfy their valences with given atoms like here hydrogen and oxygen are given. Count them at last and see which among the possibilities is forming the required molecular formula, by this you will get to know all the possibilities.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Let’s start by making a carbon chain of four carbons, $C - C - C - C$ now as chain is formed, put the oxygen at different sites like firstly you put it in a way to form aldehyde,

$C{H_3} - C{H_2} - C{H_2} - CHO$ in this case when we are forming an aldehyde count the number of all the atoms and form the molecular formula, you will see that in this case of aldehyde you get

${C_4}{H_8}O$ which is not matching with the required one. So, option A. is not correct.
Second we have alcohols so let’s try to make the skeleton chain of carbon atoms looking like an alcohol,

$C{H_3} - C{H_2} - C{H_2} - C{H_2}OH$ now if we count the number of atoms in the chain we will get to know that it is making exact formula, means ${C_4}{H_{10}}O$ it may be an answer. Let’s try further possibilities-

Next we have to make the skeleton looks like an ether so try to put the oxygen atom in between of carbon atoms, like this $C - C - O - C - C$ now if we try to satisfy all the valences we get a structure like this $C{H_3} - C{H_2} - O - C{H_2} - C{H_3}$ .

Count the number of atoms and make the molecular formula, it is also making the same molecular formula, ${C_4}{H_{10}}O$ so yes it can be the answer.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: After making the required structure always count the number of atoms it can be amine if nitrogen is present or nitro compound because of nitrogen. But here as you see in the molecular formula, that oxygen is present so it can be alcohol, aldehyde ketones, ethers etc. Choose the correct by seeing the options.