Question

Write the molecular formula and IUPAC name of the following compounds:
methyl alcohol, formaldehyde, formic acid, acetone

Answer 1

Hint: International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is an international federation of chemists all around the world which has set the conventional naming system for chemical compounds. The number of carbon and other atoms present in a compound represents its molecular formula.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Methyl alcohol also known as methanol appears as a colourless volatile liquid that has a sweet pungent odour like that of ethyl alcohol and it also completely mixes with water hence it is a miscible compound. The vapours of methanol are slightly heavier than air and may travel some distance to any source of ignition and create a flash. Accumulation of vapours of this compound might lead to explosions if ignited and it is used to make chemicals, to remove water from automotive and aviation fuels, and also as a solvent for paints and plastics. Methanol has a molecular formula of ${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{OH}}$ or ${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}{\text{O}}$. Its IUPAC name is methyl alcohol.

Formaldehyde is a colourless and poisonous gas that is synthesized by oxidation of methanol and is used as an antiseptic, a disinfectant, a histologic fixative, and also in general purpose chemical reagent for laboratory purposes. It is readily soluble in water and is also known as formalin. It has a chemical formula of ${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}}$ or ${{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{CO}}$. Its IUPAC name is methanal.

Formic acid is the simplest of carboxylic acids. It is a reagent that is composed of organic chemical formic acid that cleaves proteins into peptides at the C- and N- terminal side of an aspartate residue. It is mainly used as a preservative, an antibacterial agent in livestock feed and when sprayed on fresh hay or other silage, it goes under certain decay processes and also causes the feed to retain its nutritive value for a longer period of time. It is a colourless liquid that has a pungent odour. The molecular formula of formic acid is ${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}}$ or ${\text{HCOOH}}$. The IUPAC name of formic acid is methanoic acid.

Acetone is a colourless, volatile, flammable organic solvent that occurs naturally in plants, trees, forest fire, vehicle exhaust, and as a breakdown product of animal fat metabolism. It might be normally present in very small quantities in urine and blood and larger amounts might be found and that of diabetics. It is toxic in nature and is a colourless, mobile, flammable liquid which is readily soluble in water and ethanol, and itself serves as an important solvent. The molecular formula of acetone is ${{\text{C}}_{\text{3}}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}}{\text{O}}$ or ${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{COC}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}$. Its IUPAC name is propanone.

Note: Without determining the molecular formula of a compound, nomenclature is not possible for that compound. So, the molecular formula of a compound plays a vital role in the naming convention of any compound.