Question

Why we should use suffix in pentanol?
Why shouldn't we use prefix ?
Like hydroxy pentane

Answer 1

Answer:

because in pentanol alcohol is the main functional group if it was with another higher priority group like acid,aldehydethen it is use as prefic

Answer 2

Answer:

This is. because there are some rules in IUPAC nomenclature.

the compound CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-OH

can be divided into two functional groups-

hydroxhl(-OH) group and alkane group.

Once if we look at IUPAC nomenclature chart, we found that hydroxyl group has higher precedence over alkane group, but it is always placed after the alkane backbone removing 'e' of the alkane and adding 'ol' to it.